Organic vs Non-Organic

The Predicament

The increasing amount of technology involved in manufacturing vegetable oils has raised safety concerns about their use in everyday life. The opinion of the general public would be that it is safer and healthier to use organic oils instead of non-organic oils. It is this belief that has helped the organic oil industry flourish over the past years. People who prefer to use organic oils find themselves having to pay a higher price compared to non-organic oils. However, is the extra price worth paying for? Firstly, let’s take a general look at both organic and non-organic oils.

Organic Oils

Organic oils are oils that come from organically grown plants. This means that the plants were grown naturally without the use of artificial substances such as pesticides, herbicides, synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, genetically-modified seeds and growth hormones. The plants are fertilized by animal manure or compost, which is nature’s way of enriching the soil with nutrients and is sustained by a method called biological control. These plants which are organically grown then produce a completely pure oil which is safe to use.

Non-Organic Oils

On the contrary, non-organically grown plants almost always produce oil which contains trace amounts of pesticides or other synthetic chemicals used on the plant. These contaminants are inherent in all non-organic oils and are a cause for concern as they are thought to pose a lot of health risks. They also sharply reduce the quality of the oils produced by the plants and slightly alter their aroma and taste. However, these oils are significantly cheaper because they are easier and faster to produce and are usually preferred by farmers because of their ease to maintain their constituent plants with industrial agricultural methods.

So far, several studies have been done but there have been no conclusive results which suggest that non-organic oils are any less healthy than organic. Most claims that organic oils are healthier than their non-organic counterparts are merely based on word of mouth of anecdotal accounts.

Although not backed up by scientific evidence, most health practitioners, therapists and medical professionals still advocate for the use of organic oils. Pure, natural oil offers more benefits and eliminates the risk of any possible, if any health threats. It offers stronger therapeutic effects, a stronger aroma and the food cooked with it tastes better.

The Verdict

While organic oils are priced higher than non-organic oils, the price different is worth every penny. The lack of conclusive scientific evidence is due to the lack of proper, controlled studies performed and it does not mean that the trace amount of contaminants left in non-organic oils will not harm your health. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially when it is your health that is involved. All organic certified oils go through a series of rigorous and strict regulations and standards set by government organizations. You can confidently use organic oils for various purposes and reap maximum benefits from them without worrying about any possible health risks.

When shopping for organic oils, you should get them directly from farmers instead of places like supermarkets or food stores. They are cheaper when bought directly from the source and tend to be more fresh. Make sure that there is a certified label by a government body saying that the oil you are purchasing is indeed organic and also cross-check with other sources to confirm.