What does it mean to be Certified Organic?
With consumers increasingly becoming more knowledgeable about food and nutrition, there is an increased demand for organic food. The term “organic” refers to the way certain food products are produced. Since organic food is generally produced without the use of chemical fertilisers, hormones, pesticides, flavours and preservatives, it is believed that they are healthier, safer and tastier.
Over the years, more research has emerged about the benefits of organic food as well as advanced methods to assess the food to test whether they are organic. This has helped organisations to test and monitor farmers and producers and confirm their compliance to specific organic standards. So, if you place value in the fact that your food is organic, it is important to ensure that the food is certified organic so that you know that the food has been produced under stringent guidelines.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one such reputed organisation that overlooks the certification of organic food products. With a history dating back to the Lincoln administration, it is one of the most reputed institutions setting precedent regarding agricultural practices in the world. Similarly, over the years, USDA has presented a set of strict guidelines that farmers and producers have to follow in order to become certified organic.
USDA Standards
- The lands should be free of substances that will fail to comply with the standards for at least three years before a harvest.
- Radioactivity, genetic engineering and sewage gunk are prohibited on farming grounds.
- Farmers should always opt for organic seedlings and plant stock whenever they are available.
- Livestock animals should be fed one hundred percent organic agricultural feeding products. Additionally, vitamins and mineral supplements can be provided.
- Dairy animals should be raised organically with at least a time period of 12 months for the products to be certified and labelled organic.
In line with our mission at Tipson to bring the best and the most natural ingredients to you in our teas and herbal infusions, a majority of our ingredients are sourced from USDA certified organic farmers and suppliers.
Why You Should Consume Organic Products
They have fewer heavy metals and harmful chemicals
As previously mentioned, organic vegetables, fruits and grains are grown without the use of artificial fertilisers and synthetic pesticides (apart from few approved ones). Over the years, studies have shown that synthetic fertilisers and pesticides can bring harmful effects from repeated exposure. Therefore, consuming more organic food that is free of these harmful ingredients can be healthy for you in the long run, especially for your liver and kidneys.
Higher antioxidant content
Years of research has proven the positive effects of antioxidants on your health, especially antioxidants derived from organic food. This is because organic food is free of chemicals that can hinder the effects of organic compounds, vitamins and minerals in food which can deteriorate the benefits of antioxidants in food. The limited exposure to heavy metals through the consumption of organic food can also enhance the positive effects of these antioxidants including but not limited to the prevention of vision problems, heart disease, premature aging, cognitive malfunction and certain types of cancers.
Strengthened immunity
Industrial farming methods used to increase the production of crops can have detrimental effects on your immunity in the long run. So, by consuming more organic food, you will be able to strengthen your immune system since it is able to absorb more essential and higher quality nutrients.
Better Taste
You may have heard this before, but do you know why that is? Generally, organic food tends to taste better since they have different sugar and mineral structures compared to inorganic food, which affects their taste. On top of that, organic farming methods give crops more time to develop and mature. This allows them to develop more flavour.
At Tipson, every batch of herbal infusions is made with carefully selected and well-researched ingredients. That is the promise we make to stay true to our commitment to bring you the best products to heal your mind and body.