Effects of Organic Food

The Effects of Organic Food on the Human Body and the Economy

Kevin Andrews

Shepherd University

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Effects of Organic Food

Abstract

Organic food over the years is becoming a more relative topic due to the rise in sedentary

lifestyle diseases. Conventional food is hurting America where it might deem a cheaper option, it

might not be the case anymore. Organic Food is defined as any product that has not used the

additives such as pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and synthetic fertilizers and these

additives can do some damage to the human body over time. This study will show the effect

organic food has on the human body, the way it effects our economy and society, and what are

we doing to teach our children on how to prepare home cooked meals.

Keywords: Organic food, conventional food, lifestyle diseases, obesity

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Effects of Organic Food

Contents

Abstract........2

Contents...3

Background of the Study.5

Statement of the Problem6

Purpose of the Study...6

Research Questions.6

Limitations...6

Review of the Literature..7

Benefits of Eating Organic Food.8

Benefits of Organic Food and the Economy..9

What can we do to teach our kids and future generations on eating healthy.10

Research Methods..12

The Study Design...12

Research Questions with Hypothesis....13

Participants.13

Instrumentation..13

Summary of the Methodology...14

Summary and Discussion...15

Summary of the Study...15

Discussion of the Findings.15

Conclusions15

Recommendations for Practice..16

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Effects of Organic Food

Recommendations for Future Research16

References..17

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Effects of Organic Food

Background of the Study

Organic food are produce and other ingredients that are grown without the use of

pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing

radiation. Organic food can clearly be identified simply by its packaging and labeling on the

product (McEvoy, 2012). Without these labels on the products, then the product is not organic

and they are either chemicals or synthetics that produced the product and it can deem unhealthy

to the individual.

Organic foods differ from processed or non-organic foods by on how it is prepared.

Organic produce is grown in the soil that has not used synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in the

past three years of harvest (McEvoy, 2012). In order for meat to be organic, the animals must be

in their natural habitats and fed organic feed with only administered antibiotics or hormones

(McEvoy,2012). Without a product meeting these specifications, the product cannot be labeled

as an organic product.

Organic food is a booming industry but organic food can make more capital gains if

individuals decide to switch from processed foods to organics. As of 2015, total organic product

sales reached a new bench mark of 43.3 billion dollars which is 11 percent higher from the

previous year (McNeil, 2016). This is a large number but as country, processed foods still make

up of 70 percent of Americas household diet (Ryssdal, 2013). Organic food could benefit much

more if that 70 percent of Americans were to switch to organics and see these numbers increase

even more.

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Effects of Organic Food

Statement of the Problem

The problem is that since organic food has been studied, it needs further investigation in

order to see if there is correlation to unhealthy dietary lifestyles and eating organic food could

benefit Americans in longer healthy lifestyles.

Purpose of this Study

The purpose of this study is to bring forth the purpose of organic food and why America

has shied away from eating home grown food as oppose to eating store bought and pre-packaged

meals. America has become a large country, as in pounds, and lifestyle diseases are one of the

main causes of death in this country (Simon, 2014). As a country, the Americans are not teaching

our children how to cook and prepare home meals which is setting them up for failure when they

go out on their own and they are not making the right lifestyle choices which leads to lifestyle

diseases (Oliver,2013).

Eating organic food throughout this research will also highlight what organic food could

do for the economy and what the industry is doing now on how they prepare our food as we

consume it today. This study could help individuals on eating healthier and what they can do to

help our future generations to come.

Research Questions

The following research questions have been developed to guide this study:

RQ1: What are the benefits of eating organic food for an individual?

RQ2: How would eating organic food benefit the economy/society?

RQ3: What can we do to teach our kids and future generations on eating healthier?

Limitations

The Following limitations have been recognized in this study:

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Effects of Organic Food

1. Not enough time to measure a study that would take years to possibly measure.

2. Would need a large sample size.

3. Conducting a large research experiment would cost an exponential amount of

money for one study.

4. Dietary restrictions an individual might have on certain organic foods.

Review of Literature

This chapter will focus on the many effects of eating and producing organic food. The

chapter will dive into this topic by concentrating on the many benefits that organic food has to

offer. The first point of concentration is the many benefits of organic food for individuals.

Another point of concentration will place emphasis on the many larger-scale benefits for the

economy and society as a whole. After discussing the many benefits of organic food, the chapter

will outline the ways that society can teach future generations to eat healthy. Some important

facts to be expanded upon in this chapter are shown in the infographic below. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Organic Food Infographic

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Effects of Organic Food

Figure 1: This infographic about the organic food industry was retrieved from the Market

Analysis webpage of the website for the Organic Trade Association. (Organic Market Analysis,

2016)

Benefits of eating organic food

Organic food has many beneficial factors to the human body which can help to produce a

long lasting life. First, the food contains fewer, or no, pesticides that conventional farming

methods utilize heavily. These pesticides can sometimes lead to cancer later on in life if

consumed in large quantities (The Problem with Pesticides, 2015). Next, organically raised

animals are not given any sort of antibiotics, growth hormones, or fed unhealthy animal by-

products (Factory Farming: Misery for Animals, 2017). If an individual gets sick and needs

antibiotics, they may not be effective because of bacteria resistance created from being

overexposed through consumption. Organic food is also free of genetically modified organisms

(Organic Foods: What You Need to Know About Eating Organic, 2016). Because organic

animals and plants are not modified in any way, human bodies receive all of the nutrients

available.

A common misconception about organic food is that it is much more expensive; this however,

has been thoroughly disputed through research. First, because of the fact that organic food is

much more nutritional for the body, consumers will spend less on medical bills than those who

settle for conventionally produced foods. Eating healthier also assists in maintaining a healthy

weight, lessening the chance for diseases exasperated by weight. Curing these diseases can be

very costly and being proactive about weight could save these funds. Lastly, when an individual

consumes junk food they are not receiving the nutrients they need and end up eating more to

feel full which leads to overeating and over-spending. Because organic foods contain the

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Effects of Organic Food

necessary ingredients for life, without any of the harmful additives, they help you eat less (10

Reasons Why Organic Foods are Cheaper than Conventional & GMO based Foods, 2017).

Benefits of Organic Food and the Economy

Today we are seeing organic foods being bought at an exceptional rate compared to the

past when organic food was seen as a possible fad. The drastic change in sales growth from year

to year is shown in the chart below see (Figure 2.)

Figure 2. Total U.S. Organic Sales, 2006-2015

Figure 2: The graph regarding the change in organic food sales over a ten year period comes

from the Market Analysis section of the website for the Organic Trade Association (Organic

Market Analysis, 2016).

Organic food hit the shelves when congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act in

2002 (History of Organic Farming in the United States, 2012). Prior to the O.F.P.A, the only

organic food which was attainable came from local organic farmers or individuals growing their

own food. When organic food became widely distributed through grocery stores, it saw major

sales; in the first half of the decade organic food sales grew by 17-20%, accounting for over four

percent of U.S. food sales (Callard, 2009). This statistic is seeing steady increases as years go by.

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Effects of Organic Food

This trend in sales shows that organic food is going to be a major staple in the American

household.

What can we do to teach our kids and future generations on eating healthier?

Jamie Oliver, famous chef and restaurant owner said, Lifestyle diseases are the number one

killer in America as of today (Oliver, 2010). Studies show that Americans are not teaching

children about the types of food they should be putting into their bodies. Because of this,

children today are projected to average a lifespan of ten years less than their parents (Oliver,

2010). It is going to be essential for children to learn about the food they put into their bodies if

this statistic is to ever be turned around.

Feeding children fast food and factory-produced food does not provide the nutrition necessary

for a healthy lifestyle and promoting growth. Teaching kids the importance of fresh and healthy

food, along with how to prepare it, will help to promote healthy lifestyle choice in future

generations as well. Providing healthier school lunch options to children will also help to ensure

a healthier adult lifestyle (see figure 3).

Figure 3. Trends in Childhood Obesity

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Effects of Organic Food

Figure 3: The graph containing information about trends in childhood obesity came from the

Child Trends Databank Indicator entitled Overweight Children and Youth (Overweight

Children and Youth, 2014).

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Effects of Organic Food

Research Methods

The contents of this chapter outlines and defines the specific procedure used in researching the

outcomes of applying a group based diet program for individuals to see if organic food is

healthier than conventional food. This chapter also includes the methodology in reviewing the

metadata combined figures retrieved from prior studies to support the hypothesis that are

suggested in the research questions. The chapter outlines the design of the study, the participants

used in the study, the specific instruments used for the collection of the data, the proposal

collection data method, and a summary of the data analysis.

The Study Design

The quantitative research was designed to be a correlation study between individuals who

consume organic food and individuals who eat conventional food. The study examines the

outcome on the effect organic food has on psychological and physical health following the diet

program. An individual will follow the prescribed diet programs and will use this guide

throughout the study. A combination of these instruments as well as a post-diet survey/physical

designed to analyze the perceived physical and psychological value that each individual has felt

after participating in the diet program.

This experiment was composed of 150 individuals on a diet program for more than one year. The

groups were divided into Group one is the control group who will have a normal diet that an

individual may eat whatever they want. Group two is the experimental group. This group will

have the all organic food diet prescribed from a nutritionist. Each group will be surveyed before

and after the year diet to see what they hope to accomplish and what were the results of the

experiment.

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Effects of Organic Food

Research Questions with Hypothesis

The following research questions were developed to guide the study which examined the

outcomes on a Veterans social, psychological, and physical perception of health associated with

a group based exercise therapy program.

RQ1: What are the benefits of eating organic food for an individual?

H There is a statistically significant difference in the benefits of eating organic food.

H There is no statistically significant difference in the benefits of eating organic food.

RQ2: How would eating organic food benefit the economy/society?

H There is a statistically significant difference in organic food benefiting in the economy/society.

H There is no statistically significant difference in organic food benefiting in the

economy/society.

RQ3: What can we do to teach our kids and future generations on eating healthier?

H There is a statistically difference between teaching our kids on eating healthier.

H There is no statistically difference between teaching our kids on eating healthier.

Participants

The participants of this study were randomly chosen that signed up for a diet program for

a year. The number of participants were 500 people for the diet program. The age range will vary

from 18 up to 50 years so that gives a wide range of individuals being able to study. The 500

selected individuals will be divided into two groups of 250 and one group will be on an organic

food diet and the other will be a conventional food diet.

Instrumentation

The study was conducted using a survey instrument. This survey instrument was

generated to evaluate the post-diet program for both groups. This survey will include a scale onif

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Effects of Organic Food

their diet either improved, hinder, or stayed the same throughout the program. The survey will

also measure a psychology aspect to see if the diet had an effect on their mental health from the

diet program. The survey will be given at the yearly physical after the completion of the diet

program.

Summary of the Methodology

The contents of this chapter outline the methods used in the study design, the research

questions, the selection of participants, the instrumentation used, and the data collection method

all used in the study. This study reviews in detail each procedure used in formulating the

experiment starting with the population selection promoted within the volunteers of the diet

program. Details have been provided that outline the data collection process and the procedures

to collect that information.

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Effects of Organic Food

Summary and Discussion

Summary of the Study

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between eating organic food and

conventional food. Eating organic food benefits people both internally and economically rather

than eating conventional food that will cost you money in the long run and reduce the number of

years you have on life.

Discussion of the Findings

Based on the data-collection, individuals that eat a organic food diet will have health

benefits both in the short term and in the long term. The study was able to answer the three

research questions:

RQ1: What are the benefits of eating organic food for an individual? The study showed that if an

individual were to switch to an organic food diet, then they will have a healthier body and will

prevent the sedentary lifestyle diseases. Also, it will save money in their pocket in the long term

by avoiding the medical bills that come with sedentary lifestyle diseases.

RQ2: How would eating food benefit the economy/society? The study showed that eating an

organic food diet would not benefit in the short term but more long term benefits in that less

people will be getting sick so less medical bills.

RQ3: What can we do to teach our kids and future generations on eating healthier? This study

proved that as a society we are not teaching our kids the proper way to make home cooked meals

and as a society, we must do a better job in passing down on how to eat healthy in America.

Conclusions

The overall data proved that eating an organic food diet will benefit America and if

America does not change the way they eat, they will lose years on their life. Food that is mass

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Effects of Organic Food

produced is making billions of dollars only to put individuals in the hospital faster than they are

expected. If America can teach our kids how to make home cooked meals, then we can change

the way and shape of our country.

Recommendations for Practice

1. This study can be used to look at the beneficial factors that organic food can have

on the body and if an individual wants a healthier lifestyle, they can look at the benefits of this

study.

2. This study can also be used to show how much money can be made in selling

organic food and how much people also can save by switching to organic food.

3. This study can be used to show that America is not doing a good job teaching our

kids on how to cook home meals and eating healthier so it can reflect on what can America do

better.

Recommendations for Future Research

1. A larger sample size would be beneficial to get even more data on the benefits of

organic food.

2. Another recommendation is for the research to go on for longer which can show

more long term effects of organic food.

3. Lastly, a final recommendation is to broaden the search from just America to an

international study to see if other countries are benefiting from their eating habits or not.

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Effects of Organic Food

References

10 Reasons Why Organic Foods are Cheaper than Conventional & GMO based Foods. (2017).
Retrieved March 5, 2017, from Seattle Organic Restaurants:
http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-foods/10-reasons-organic-foods-
cheaper-conventional-gmo-based-foods/

Callard, A. (2009, December 30). A Decade Food Trends. Retrieved February 4, 2015, from
Smithsonianmag.com: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-decade-in-food-
trends-76395204/

Factory Farming:Misery for Animals. (2017). Retrieved March 2, 2017, from PETA:
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/

History of Organic Farming in the United States. (2012). Retrieved February 10, 2017, from
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education: http://www.sare.org/Learning-
Center/Bulletins/Transitioning-to-Organic-Production/Text-Version/History-of-Organic-
Farming-in-the-United-States

Oliver, J. (2010, February). Teach Every Child About Food. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from
Ted.com: https://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver

Organic Foods: What You Need to Know About Eating Organic. (2016, December). Retrieved
March 3, 2017, from HelpGuide.org: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-
eating/organic-foods.htm?fb_ref=Default&fb_source=message

Organic Market Analysis. (2016). Retrieved February 20, 2017, from Organic Trade
Association: https://www.ota.com/resources/market-analysis

Overweight Children and Youth. (2014, August). Retrieved March 7, 2017, from Child Trends
Data Bank: https://www.childtrends.org/indicators/overweight-children-and-youth/

The Problem with Pesticides. (2015). Retrieved March 3, 2017, from Toxics Action Center:
http://www.toxicsaction.org/problems-and-solutions/pesticides

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