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Organic foods happen to be a trending topic over the last couple years, but can they convey more health advantages than conventionally grown crops? New research by Newcastle University (NU) in the uk compared 343 studies around organic and conventionally grown fruit, vegetables, and cereals.
The study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition and compared the differences between organic and conventionally grown food and it is nutritional value. Research figured organically produced food contained an astounding 60 % more antioxidants. Organic meals are also 4 times less likely to have pesticide residue, and possess extremely lower levels of toxic heavy metal and rock cadmium, research says.
Study leader Professor Carlo Leifert of ecological agriculture at NU, says that their findings are “overwhelming” which organic crops contain antioxidants which are equivalent to one or two extra servings of vegetables and fruit.
Organic crops also contain less metal contaminants for example cadmium. The contaminant levels are 50 percent lower for food grown organically.
However, what qualifies as an “organic” product? Based on research, organic growers are not able to protect crops with synthetic chemicals or use mineral fertilizers to help prevent pesticide contamination in groundwater. Michelle Remkus, dietician at Advocate Good Samartitan Overall health Center, states that buying organic means you’re purchasing foods that do not use synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
“Food claiming to become organic should be free of artificial food additives and are usually created using fewer artificial methods for example chemical ripening, food irradiation, and genetically modified ingredients,” Remkus says. “In addition, the food should be made of 95 % organic ingredients.”
That being said, it is recommended to give organic fertilizers, for example manure, to richen the nitrogen within the soil by rotating legume crops, research says. The research also states that non-chemical protection methods for example crop rotation, weeding, and biological pest control are key with regards to growing organically.
However, there may be a disadvantage to buying organic such as the price. Remkus states that there’s two deterrents that people face when buying vegetables. “So how do consumers stay within their budget, but still eat organic?? That’s when the ‘Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen’ come into play,” she said. “Fruits and veggies that contain higher of pesticides are termed the ‘Dirty Dozen.’?? The ‘Clean Fifteen,’ on the other hand, are 15 fruits and veggies which are lower in pesticides and are usually fine to purchase non-organic.”
