Why an organic way of life is even more important in the time of COVID crisis

The pandemic has given organic living an unprecedented leg up. And it looks as if the trend is here to stay. Till a year ago, organic living, was largely considered to be a fetish of the elite. Not any longer. Here’s an interesting insight: Within a few months of the pandemic, search interest in ‘How to live a sustainable lifestyle’ had increased by over 4,550% on a top search engine.

What then is ‘organic living’? In simple terms, this means opting for healthy choices while not putting a burden on the environment andensuring that the earth’s bounties are sustained for future generations. (Image: istock)

The pandemic created a never-before crisis: economic, social and personal, triggering a pull-back on the use of resources –in other words a move towards sustainable or organic living. The key goal is to do more with less and help sustain natural resources. This had a profound impact in industries as diverse as fashion and food. Recycling, sustainable means of obtaining fabric, better environmental practices to protect and nourish – allled to sustainable fashion seeing an upsurge.Across the world, major fashion brands began focusing on their sustainable lines. At home, the Lakmé Fashion Week had a sustainable fashion segment.

Perhaps the biggest wake-up call was felt in the space of the food we consume. People woke up to the critical lack of holistic immunity in urban communities which had, in a way, led to the crisis blowing up. The old saying – you are what you eat – never rang truer.The lack of holistic immunity may be attributed to several factors such as stress, sedentary habits and lack of good sleep, but the biggest factor is what we eat. (Image: istock)

It is a commonly accepted fact that most of the food we eat is full of toxins that seep into the produce from pollutants in the soil and chemicals used while growing the food. This is where organic food scores.

What are organic foods? Organic foods are grown in ways that are environment-friendly, without using harmful chemicals, growth hormones and preservatives. The land the foods are to be grown in is left fallow to drain out residual pesticides and other harmful pollutants and only then used for cultivation. No chemical manure or pesticide or artificial means of ripening and enhancing produce is used. This directly translates to the natural nutrients in our foods reaching us as Nature intended.

So while organic foods will not directly keep away pathogens such as the Covid 19 virus, the natural nutritional value of the foods without harmful chemicals, helps build up immunity over a period of time. This is what helps to protect you from disease. (Image: istock)

When buying organic produce, read product labels to check for India Organic, EU Organic or USDA Organic labels. Best to buy in-season products and in smaller quantities as there are no preservatives used. Remember the relatively higher price may be worth the long-term benefits.

Learn to ask the right questions: Is the ghee you eat from milk of cows who are grazed in organic fields? The seeds from which your cooking oil is extracted – are they grown through sustainable means of farming? Are the her bs in your wellness supplements organically grown and do they contain added chemicals? (Image: istock)

Evidence on ground suggests that this positive development is likely to continue. People continue to form beelines to buy produce from organic farmers, whether they are in Shivamogga in central Karnataka or Gurugram next to Delhi, underlines this.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the organic market in India has grown at a fast pace with hundreds of ‘green shops’ opening in cities and towns.

A sizeable number of corporate cafeteriastoo serve organic food, and no one raises an eyebrow at the sight of an executive digging into his home-made organic amla rice with ginger peanut curry on the side and turmeric juice to wash it down! (Image: istock)

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, India is home to 30 percent of the total certified organic producers in the world, but accounts for just 3.3 percent (1.9 million hectares) of total organic cultivated area at 57.8 million hectares.

So, India has a lot of headroom to grow as an organic food and supplement supplier to not just the organic producers in the country but across the world as well.

The pandemic has opened up the organic way of living, and if trends are to be read correctly, the movement is here to stay! (Image: istock)

Contributed by: By Subrata Dutta, Group Managing Director, Organic India