Organic Food Is a Safer Source of Nutrients for Children’s Health and Development

As our lifestyles get cushioned with more quick fixes and conveniences, we are also living in a world that is more toxic than we realise. All around us in our environment as well as the foods that we consume, contain higher levels of toxins due to more mass and rapid production of our needs. What can we do to take heed of such findings? We can take control of our food consumption choices. Choosing an organic diet is one way to lessen the intake of toxins from pesticides, additives, and other contaminants found in many foods. Organic food all around the world are heavily regulated, from the soil used to the agricultural processes that takes place throughout the whole process. These production standards involve the growing, storing, processing, packaging and even shipping of organic food. Image credit: Canva Furthermore, organic food is also a good source of naturally infused nutrients. Children will certainly benefit from consuming organic food during their growing years to ensure they receive quality nutrients for their growth and development. Dr. JoAnn Rajah, a General Paediatrician and a loving mother of three, says: "The food we feed our children during their critical stages of life - infancy and childhood can potentially influence their growth, particularly the brain and nervous system. As a child specialist, I know how important it is to protect my children during their tender years. That is why I choose to feed them organic food to limit their exposure to various potentially harmful chemicals. With that, I believe they would have a good head start to becoming strong, resilient children ready to take on the world's challenges." Image credit: Dr JoAnn Rajah, General Paediatrician, Firststep Child Specialist Clinic In this educational piece, we will look at some of the impact of our food sources, and understand why experts in the area of organics and pure nutrition like HiPP, doctors, and researchers recommend and support choosing organic, especially for children’s formative and growing years. Toxins in Our Food and Their Effects Many of our food sources contain toxins that come from chemicals such as pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones that are regularly used in plant and animal farming. They are used to boost production to ensure sufficient food supply. Residues of these chemicals can be harmful to us. The level of harm is relative to the amount being consumed. The more we consume, the greater our risk of facing some undesirable effects. Children are not spared from consuming these as many of the products and foods we offer to them are conventionally produced from sources that contain such chemicals. Such toxins have been extensively written about on how they affect brain development and other health risks. We have progressed from a century ago where child mortality was high due to many infectious diseases. However, today we are facing new childhood morbidities, namely attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, asthma, obesity, diabetes, etc. Learning disabilities and mental disorders are now two of the most prevalent morbidities in children (Annual Reviews - Lanphear BP 2015). Chemicals Linked to Development Disorders in Children A study by the Harvard School of Public Health (The Lancet, published March 2014) has identified several likely industrial chemicals that cause children to suffer reduced attention span, delayed development, and poor school performance. Some chemicals with strong evidence of connection to neurodevelopment disorders in children are lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), arsenic, and chlorpyrifos and DDT (pesticides) amongst others. World Health Organization states that young children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning, as they absorb four to five times more as compared to adults who ingested lead. How is Organic Food Safer and Why Experts Recommend Organic Diet According to American Academy of Pediatrics, organic farming uses an approach of growing crops and raising livestock that avoids synthetic chemicals, hormones, antibiotic agents, genetic engineering and irradiation. As such, consumers of organic diets have demonstrated that they are exposed to fewer pesticides associated with human diseases. Image credit: Canva A study done by Barcelona Institute For Global Health also suggested: "Healthy diets, including organic diets, are richer than fast food diets in nutrients necessary for the brain, such as fatty acids, vitamins and oxidants, which together may enhance cognitive function in childhood." Thus, experts recommend organic diets as a way to minimise exposure to harmful chemicals, and reap better health benefits. Not All Foods Labelled as Organic Are Equal Image credit: Canva When it comes to choosing organic products, not all products labelled organic are equal in quality. There are different standards for organic farming and livestock raising around the world. What we want for our little ones is the pure quality of organic foods available in the market. Suffice to say, it bodes well for everyone to learn more about organic food standards. This helps us make more informed decisions when shopping for quality organic food. Choosing What’s Best for Our Children Image credit: Canva Parents are always striving to give our best to our children. For their optimum growth and development, it gives us peace of mind to choose organic—the pure nutrition for our child. This educational article is supported by HiPP.

Family Planning by

Family Fun By Sunway Malls

Motherhood Panel of Experts

More Stories

Do Your Kids Love the Helper More Than You?