It goes without saying that we’re big believers in an organic lifestyle at The Organic Skin Co. Like everyone else, we’re occasionally guilty of straying from the straight and narrow, but we do our best to live our lives naturally and well. 

At the same time, we’re conscious that organic can be expensive (it’s one of the reasons we work hard to keep our prices as low as possible!) and we understand that an almost endless supply of cheap, processed alternatives can make it hard for us to stick to our guns when it comes to buying organic.

At times like these, it’s worth remembering the benefits an organic lifestyle can bring you. If you haven’t already put your own list together (you have, right?), here’s six awesome reasons to live an organic life:

• An organic lifestyle is good for our planet. 

Currently, too many farmers in too many countries are reliant on toxic synthetic chemicals - fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides – to help grow their crops. Not only do these chemicals reduce the balance of healthy nutrients in our soil (resulting in foods that are much less nutrient dense than they were even 30 years ago), they also cause toxic runoffs that pollute local water supplies, disrupt vital ecosystems, and create dead zones in large bodies of water.

Thankfully, organic farming methods are making a difference. Utilizing composted manure and other natural materials in the place of synthetic chemicals, organic and biodynamic farmers are helping to minimize the amount of toxic chemicals in our environment and preserve our precious topsoil, both oh-so-important to the future health of our planet. Just as important, these farmers have rejected an outdated monocultural approach (growing one crop over and over on the same patch of soil), using crop rotations instead, to help regenerate the land. 

We’ve seen for ourselves the incredible difference that organic farming practices can make, most notably in India, where our partner community farms are helping to restore vitality to a landscape that’s previously been decimated by the overuse of harmful chemicals.

• An organic lifestyle exposes you to fewer toxins.

One of the key reasons for our modern health crisis, where degenerative diseases like cancer and heart disease are at an all-time high, is the number of toxins we’re exposed to on a daily basis. Toxic substances are in our skincare, in our food, in our clothes, in the technology we use, and – sadly – even in the air that we breathe.

One recent study, published in the journal, ‘Food Additives and Contaminants’, has even highlighted how hazardous chemicals linked to cancer and fertility can be found in our food packaging; the kind of packaging generally associated with pre-made, heavily processed foods. In total, the study found an astonishing 175 chemicals of concern in different packages. More worrying still, many of these chemicals were being released into food (admittedly, at low levels) and were being ingested by people daily.

How then, can we escape the toxic soup we live in? Sadly, we can’t, but we can certainly reduce our exposure by choosing organic. Certified organic cosmetics will be free of chemical nasties, as will most organic and natural foods. If you’re worried about your exposure to too many toxins, it makes sense to buy organic products.

• You’ll be less likely to suffer from allergies.

We’ve talked before about the allergy explosion in the western world - http://myworldorganic.com/the-allergy-pandemic/. Whilst there are numerous reasons for this pandemic, one of the most significant factors is our modern diet. We consume too many trans fats, way too much sugar, and we’re addicted to refined wheat.

The result has been a massive increase in the type and rate of allergies. By way of example, a recent research project, conducted by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), pinpointed the alarming rise in allergic asthma over the last fifty years. Significantly, this is the period of time in which the western diet has undergone a massive change and the study has demonstrated that the two are causally linked. In particular, the problem appears to be a lack of fermentable fibres in our diet, something which has had a negative impact not only on our gut health, but also our lungs. Without sufficient consumption of these fibres (which can be found in fruit and vegetables), many of us are beginning to suffer from asthma and other inflammatory allergic reactions.

By adopting a healthy organic lifestyle and eating organic foods, with a focus on fresh fruit and vegetables, we will get the fibre we need to keep our gut healthy and our immune response strong, thus reducing our chances of suffering from a host of allergies (not to mention obesity, cancer and coronary disease!).

• An organic lifestyle will make you happier.

When you choose an organic lifestyle, you’re doing the right thing by yourself and the world around you. It should come as no surprise that this will make you happier. There’s plenty of evidence, after all, that we’re happier when we’re healthy. We feel better, we’re more optimistic, and we relate better to the world around us. An organic lifestyle is a healthy lifestyle. Embrace it and be happy!

A recent study conducted by John F. Helliwell, published in the ‘Journal of Happiness Studies’, has found a clear causal link between our levels of happiness and whether we’re doing the right thing by others as well as ourselves. 

In the study, Helliwell’s consistent findings were that - no matter their wealth or background - people who volunteered for community work, or who helped out in some way, reported higher levels of happiness than those who did not. 

By adopting an organic lifestyle we’re helping not only our planet, but also ourselves and our families. Inevitably, this can only have a positive impact on the way we feel!

• An organic lifestyle can help you live longer.

As noted above, living an organic lifestyle is likely to make us healthier and happier. And both these things are linked to an increased life span.

Of course, there are sceptics – many of them with vested interests – who want to argue otherwise. But a study conducted in April 2013 has given them serious pause. This study was the brainchild of a young American student, 16-year-old Ria Chhabra, who won top honours in a US national science competition for her research, titled “Organically Grown Food Provides Health Benefits to Drosophila Melanogaster”. The results of her research, which tracked the effects of organic and conventional diets on the health of fruit flies, were astounding.

In brief, the study consistently and conclusively showed that flies fed on a diet of organic bananas and potatoes did better than those who dined on conventionally raised produce. This was particularly so in terms of fertility levels, stress resistance, and longevity, all key indicators as to general health and wellbeing.

Respected Southern Methodist University biologist, Johannes Bauer, whose lab Chhabra used to conduct her study, had this to say about the results of his young protege’s research.

“To our surprise, in the majority of our tests of flies on organic foods, the flies fed organic diets did much better on our health tests than the flies fed conventional food. Longevity and fertility are the two most important aspects of fly life. On both of these tests, flies fed organic diets performed much better than flies fed conventional diets. They lived longer, had higher fertility, and had a much higher lifetime reproductive output.”

Whilst a similar, long-term study has yet to done examining the effects of living an organic lifestyle on the overall health and longevity of humans, Chhabra’s findings are to be celebrated. They provide the clearest indication yet of something we all understand instinctively – organic is good for us!

• An organic lifestyle will make you sexier.

Honestly? This makes sense. Chances are, if you live an organic lifestyle, you’ll feel sexier.

You’ll be healthier and happier, your skin will be glowing, and you’ll be doing the right thing by your community and our planet.

And as a result? You’ll feel better about yourself, you’ll be more likely to exercise, your quality of sleep will improve, and you’ll deal better with stress.

A healthy, happy, confident, glowing you? Sounds pretty damn sexy, doesn’t it?

This blog post was written for educational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat or cure. For individual health concerns World Organics recommends that you consult with a relevant health professional.