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Is Non Organic Coffee Bad For You?
Are non organic coffee purchases bad for me? is an important consideration, and this decision must be based on factors including environmental sustainability and its effect on farm workers involved with producing it. Here are the facts behind selecting organically-grown and fair trade certified beans:
Conventional coffee production uses pesticides and fertilizers that have been linked to various health concerns, while organic beans must grow in soil that has been free from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for at least three years prior to harvest. Such chemicals have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption and impaired gut flora; to qualify as organic, coffee must come from soil with zero synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in it for at least three years prior to harvest.
Tragically, conventional coffee farming poses serious dangers to workers handling and processing coffee beans. According to a 2022 narrative review published in BMC Public Health, non-organic cultivation involves frequent exposure to pesticides that are toxic both humans and wildlife alike. These exposures may cause symptoms like fatigue, weakness and brain fog in workers handling coffee beans as well as long-term issues including oxidative stress, disrupted neurotransmitter function disruptions and reduced immune systems in workers exposed over long periods of time.
Organic certification ensures that the coffee beans you consume are free from harmful pesticides and chemicals which could have long-term health repercussions. Please keep in mind, however, that certification only refers to growing conditions; it doesn’t take into account how coffee will be handled or processed once at its end destination, such as a roasting plant or cafe.
Organic coffee provides additional health benefits by offering more antioxidant-rich nutrients. Coffee beans come from seeds in berries, which when not exposed to chemical fertilizers and pesticides produce natural antioxidants which are great for our bodies.
Even if the coffee you drink does not detectable levels of pesticides or other toxic chemicals, it still contains trace amounts as these substances seep into water supplies and get washed off into nearby rivers and streams. That is why organically-grown coffee is better for the environment as it doesn’t contribute to pollution issues like river pollution.
Consider switching to organic coffee as not only will it protect the planet and your own health but it is a delicious way to start each day! In 2022 research published in the International Journal of Food Properties showed that organically-grown coffee was often preferred over its non-organic counterpart. Researchers discovered this when conducting a taste comparison between them both and noted that organic was seen as more vibrant, citrusy, and fruity compared with conventional varieties – so making an organic switch not only protects both yourself and the environment, but it’s a delicious way to begin each day!