Organic Vs Natural Vs Herbal ! All That You Need To Know The meaning of these terms often overlaps hence we cannot easily differentiate between the terms natural and organic. Many of us also do not understand if herbal and Ayurveda are the same or not. It is all the more confusing since the meaning of these terms often overlaps.A simplified classification can be made as below: i) Herbal Products: The word "herbal" is derived from Latin word "herbalis". Herbal products are made of plant extracts, plant roots, leaves, etc. and used as per their properties. Herbal products are free from chemicals; however, pesticides may have been used in their growing. Herbal products are used in medicines. ii) Ayurveda Products:Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word which means 'life-knowledge'. Ayurveda is the ancient system of Indian medical science which includes the use of herbs as well as heavy metals like gold, silver, copper, tin mercury, sulphur, animal extracts, etc. Obviously they are used as medicines or to boost the immune system. iii) Natural Products:Natural products are made from plants are minerals that occur in nature and have not been produced in laboratories and are not man-made. However pesticides, chemical fertilizers may have been used to enhance their growth. Generally, a product claiming to be natural is free of common chemicals such as artificial fragrances, colorants, preservatives, and other synthetic additives, etc. iv) Organic Products:Organic products are also made from natural ingredients, but they are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic 'is a labeling term that indicates the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilisers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.'Generally, organic products do not contain any genetic modified ingredients or petrochemicals. They do not undergo any animal testing unless required by law, and are minimally processed. Labeled, 'made with organic ingredients', it implies the product is made with at least 70% organic ingredients. Animals on organic farms are fed organically grown feed and they are not confined 100% of the time. They are raised without antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones. Why Organic produces are better than conventional produces According to some research, organic foods may have higher nutritional value than conventional food. The reason is that in the absence of
Ayurveda proposes that Purusha (individual) and Prakriti (nature) are interlinked and so, the chemicals used in prakriti will lead to serious after effects in purusha. It is mentioned in Ayurveda that food grown in polluted environment loses its rasa (taste) and gandha (smell), thus reducing its pharmaceutical properties. The cultivation of plants whether for consumption or medicinal use should be done in a sustainable manner, with minimum interaction from chemicals to ensure good health and longevity along with a more positive impact on your mental and emotional health.Ayurveda being a holistic system of medicine places immense importance on proper diet. The quality of food is an important aspect which influences our health. The foundation of a healthy body and good immune system lies in a proper, wholesome diet. With our busy schedules, the concept of eating healthy and staying healthy was being neglected, but the scenario is changing and the current generation is extremely careful about what they eat. Counting each calories and researching the labels of ingredients for any harmful additives, we are on a close vigil for everything we consume. But one fact which we often fail to realise is the long list of unwanted chemicals that intrude into our everyday food, and we are on a false conception that we are eating healthy. We are eating healthy, but are we eating right As a part of the war against hunger and food scarcity, about four decades ago, India also launched the widely celebrated Green revolution in a bid to achieve food safety for its vast population. But the truth is that the green revolution was never very green. What started with the modern technique of using high yielding seeds, monoculture cropping, petroleum based fertilisers and pesticides in place of the traditional methods of farming, definitely improved the situation of world, but it is leading to a more serious predicament: decline in environmental quality and pernicious health issues which are threatening global security.The reckless use of chemical pesticides reduces the general biodiversity of the soil and accumulation of these chemicals into living organism, the concentration of which increases as we proceed up in the food chain, leads to a phenomenon called bio magnification. Considering that humans are at the top of the food chain, we have a high risk of accumulating substantial concentrations of these chemicals through bio magnification. The health implications of these chemicals range from short time impacts