Feeding and Diet

In today’s scenario where we are left with no choice but to make compromises with the food products which are laden with harmful chemicals that come from the chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other reagents used in their production and processing; Organic Coffee comes as a whiff of fresh, soothing, fragrant air. Although it does not seem to make any big difference when everything else available in the market is not even close to natural or organic; but this organic movement, of which this Organic Coffee is a small part, will make a big difference someday. Further, we do not have to compromise at least in case of our favourite drink and we can relax while sipping into our cup of Organic Coffee that at least here, we are not sipping in anything toxic. There is much to write about Organic Coffee and at the same time, it can be summarized in a few sentences. But, let me give you a detailed idea of what exactly can be called Organic Coffee.

Organic: Scientifically, the term “Organic” means anything that is made up of carbon or its compounds. So, all proteins, carbohydrates, hydrocarbons, a number of polymers etc. and a lot of other compounds fall under this category. But, since carbon is invariably found in all living organisms (plants or animals) and is the chief element of basic building block (which we call “Protein”) of any living body; the term “Organic” is broadly used for everything that is living or obtained from living. When it comes to agriculture, animal husbandry, food production & processing and other commodities, “Organic” means anything that is completely natural, solely obtained from natural beings and no artificial or synthetic compounds have been used during its production or processing. Different countries and governing bodies have laid more or less similar sets of guidelines which need to be followed by any product to be labeled as organic. Some general recommendations/guidelines which a product must follow to be called organic and which are common with USDA, NPOP etc., are displayed as under;

-    It must be natural, i.e. it must be a plant product or animal product.
-    It must be grown without using any synthetic chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
-   The land on which it is grown must be left fallow (uncultivated) for at least three years (in some cases, it may differ to five to ten years) so that it detoxifies itself from the remains of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides etc. used earlier on it. Within this period, no synthetic substances or chemicals should be applied on the land.
-    It must not be obtained fully or partly from or must not contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
-    It must not be genetically manipulated or tailored.
-    It must not be injected or administered with drugs to induce more and faster growth or to enhance quality of product.
-    No chemicals or synthetic flavours, preservatives, colours must be used on the products during its processing.
-    It must be packed in such packets that no chemical or metal salts disintegrate into the food packed in it.

Organic Coffee: Now that you know what does the term “Organic” stands for, it must be very easy for you to guess what should be the definition for Organic Coffee. Simply putting it, Organic Coffee is the coffee that is grown without using any synthetic fertilizer or pesticide, on a land that was given sufficient time to detoxify itself, without the aid of any genetically modified organisms and finally processed and packed without the involvement of any chemical can rightly be called Organic Coffee.

Health Benefits: Organic Coffee is good for health (except that caffeine in it) in the sense as it does not contain any toxic residues of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, artificial flavours or colours, preservatives etc. and so these harmful substances cannot enter your body (unlike in case of non organic coffee wherein these toxic chemicals are present). That does not mean that Organic Coffee can be drunk in excessive quantity.

Other Benefits: The other benefits of Organic Coffee go to the environment. Since no chemicals are used in its production, processing and packaging; it does not pollute environment. There is also no risk of smaller animals like birds, rodents, squirrels etc. being poisoned and killed due to these toxic chemicals. So, this coffee helps a lot to preserve the biotic environment and balance.