What’s the difference between natural and organic? And what are the benefits and disadvantages of these products?
Sxc.hu / elkfish
There is lots of confusion over this topic (partly because it’s fairly new to the FDA), and there’s LOTS of debate over future regulations! Read on to clear up some confusion…
NATURAL is misleading…technically, it refers to plant, algae or mineral-derived ingredients. BUT, product lines can claim they are “natural” when they actually only contain a small amount of “natural” ingredients.
ORGANIC implies that ingredients are not genetically modified, and don’t have any additives, chemicals, preservatives, and articial scents/colors. BUT, there are 4 certification levels, and companies use tricky ways to fool you into thinking you are buying organic! For example, a label stating “made from certified organic ingredients” means that it has a few organic ingredients, but is mostly inorganic. Remember this: Products with a seal from the USDA are 100% organic. If it doesn’t have a seal, beware of false advertising.
So…truly organic products can be benefical for those that choose to steer clear of preservatives, chemicals, etc. The downside? Without preservatives, your products have an extremely short shelf life, and may not be as results-driven as lines that use more potent ingredients.
The bottom line is- decide for yourself if organic products are right for you. And if you think they are, do your research to be certain you choose a truly organic line…don’t fall for the marketing tricks!
