For years now we have been faced with the question: Is organic food really better for you?

 

For me, it has never been a question. My intuition has always told me that pesticide, fungicide and other chemicals cannot be promoting vibrant health.

 

Well, now results from years of research, is telling us exactly that. Many countries, including USA, Canada, Netherland, Denmark, Australia and others have all done research on livestock, fruits and vegetables, and they all concluded that organic food and produce have higher amounts of vitamins, minerals and cancer fighting antioxidants. Milk was the winner, with up to 80% more nutrients in the summer months when the cows are grass fed.

 

There is now a growing consensus in the scientific communities that even a small amount of exposure to pesticides and other chemicals can affect people adversely, especially during the critical window of fetal development and in childhood. Several countries have now done studies on the effect of breast milk containing pesticides and infant health. Studies found that infants who were regularly exposed to higher than recommended doses of pesticides had an increased heath risk.

 

Pesticides can cause developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction and even affect babies in the womb.  

 

Most pesticide residue safety levels are set for individual pesticides, but most produce carry multiple pesticide residues. What then? What about the cocktail affect? Where are the studies showing us the safety of that? I do not believe there are any. Research is now emerging showing that this synergistic increase in toxicity could have a potential of increasing the toxicity 100 times.

 

Conventional fruits and vegetables look great, and they are on average much bigger. But don’t be fooled. The artificial fertilization associated with conventional crops, produces lush growth by swelling produce with more water. Up to 25% more water. And studies also show that the bigger the fruit and vegetables grow, the fewer nutrients they have. So is organic food really more expensive? Maybe not.

 

But instead of making the argument that small amount of pesticide is OK, I say lets rather talk about how organic food is much more nutritious and better for you.

 

Studies are now coming in showing that organically grown food has more nutrients, more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Like I said before, milk was the winner with up to 80 % more antioxidant in the summer months. Organic milk also had higher levels of vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein, zeathanthin and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Studies also compared pasture fed and grain fed cows. The study showed that grain fed beef had higher total fat content and lower omega 3 and CLA in the milk. So here you have it. Grass fed beef is better for you, producing better, more nutritious meat and milk.

 

You are what you eat, does not only apply to humans, but animals as well.

 

Here are some more studies on Organic verses non organic.

• Organic corn had 58% more nutrients
• Organic strawberries 19% more nutrients
• Organic Marion berries 50% more nutrients
• Organic milk 60-80% more nutrients
• Organic tomatoes had twice the amounts of the flavonoids, quercetin and kamempferol.

Studies have been done on other fruits and vegetables, and they all show increased amounts of vitamins, minerals and cancer fighting antioxidants.

 

Below is a list of fruit and vegetables with the highest and the lowest pesticide levels

 

Highest in Pesticide

Apples, Bell peppers, Celery, Cherries, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries.

 

Lowest in Pesticide

Asparagus, Avocados, bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Corn, Kiwi, Mangos, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples, Sweet Peas.

 

USDA’s legal standard for “organic” certification

For fruits, vegetables and grains:

• Safe soil: free of sewage, lead salts and potassium chloride, among other substances for at least three years prior to the first organic harvest
• No modification: GMO’s, irradiation and additives are prohibited
• Separate storage: handlers, food processors and food manufacturers must separate organic products from non organic products and take steps to ensure that organic foods do not come in contact with forbidden chemicals or substances.

For meat, milk, eggs and other animal products:

• Timing: animals must be raised organically from the last three gestations (for livestock) or no later than the second day of life (for poultry).
• Organic feed: livestock feed products must be 100% organically grown.
• Hormone-and antibiotic-free: sick animals must be treated, but if an animal has been treated with a prohibited medication, it can’t be labeled and sold as organic.
• Outdoor access: including pasture land for animals that graze. Each animal must have shade, shelter, fresh air, direct sunlight and room to exercise appropriate for its species.
• No commingling: Organic animal products must be separated from non organic products. Organic animal products must not come into contact with prohibited chemicals or substances.

Another important fact to note is that Natural does not equal Organic. Natural is an unregulated term, only the USDA Organic labels indicate that a food is certified organic. Food labels like All Natural, Free Range and Hormone Free means only that.

 

 So here is a summary of my opinions:

1. Organic food really is better for you.
2. Organic food really is not more expensive when you take a closer look.
3. Reading labels is the most important thing you can do to improve your health.
4. Locally grown, freshly picked, conventional fruit and vegetables are, in most cases, better for you than imported organics.

 

 

To Your Health,

Bente