Organic or non-organic? Why Organic is Better

How many times have you looked at organic and non-organic apples beside each other at the supermarket and thought, “the non-organic are $3 cheaper… I guess I’ll just get those” and happily purchased the cheaper variety?

Well, science has confirmed that every time you do this, you are passing up valuable benefits that can make a big difference to your health.

A study conducted by experts from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom analysed 343 studies into the compositional differences between organic and conventional crops. What they found was that organic fruits, vegetables and cereals all provided additional anti-oxidants that were equivalent to eating another 1-2 extra portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

The study also found that organic crops had significantly lower levels of toxic heavy metals than non-organic crops largely due to the use of toxic pesticides in conventionally-grown crops.

Newcastle University’s Professor Carlo Leifert, who led the study, said, “This study demonstrates that choosing food produced according to organic standards can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals”.

“This constitutes an important addition to the information currently available to consumers which until now has been confusing and in many cases is conflicting.”

Numerous studies have linked higher anti-oxidant intake to a reduced risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and even some cancers.

Professor Leifert added, “But this study should just be a starting point.  We have shown without doubt there are composition differences between organic and conventional crops, now there is an urgent need to carry out well-controlled human dietary intervention.”

Some ways to incorporate more organic foods into your diet to give your health a boost include:

1. Swap foods with the most pesticides for organic options. These include; apples, capsicums, carrots, imported grapes, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, potatoes and strawberries.
2. Choose low-fat or grass fed milk and meat as studies have found toxins accumulate in animal fat.
3. Wash all of your fresh produce to rid of bacteria and toxins on the outside of fruit and vegetables.
4. Buy local. Smaller farms are less likely to use harsh pesticides so rely on those for your fresh produce.

The smallest changes will make the biggest difference, so go for organic whenever you can.

Do you buy organic? Where do you get your fresh produce from? Tell us in the comments below… 

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.