HIGHER NUTRIENT LEVELS
A growing number of consumers, especially those dealing with chronic illness, are switching to organic food. A key motivation for these people is a simple belief that it’s better for them. But is it true that there are health benefits to eating organic food?Official food agencies around the world are unanimous in claiming there is no evidence of a nutritional difference. Yet a more careful review of the evidence comparing organic and non-organic food reveals that, collectively, the available information does indeed support the consumer belief and claims by the organic industry that their food is safer, more nutritious, and better for you than non-organic food.We can expect also that phytonutrients, many of which are antioxidants
involved in the plant’s own defense system, will be higher in organic
produce because crops rely more on their own defenses in the absence
of regular applications of chemical pesticides. Evidence is emerging that
confirms this expectation. Higher levels have so far been found of
lycopene in organic tomatoes, polyphenols in organic potatoes, flavonols
in organic apples, and resveratrol in organic red wine. A recent review
of the subject estimated that organic produce will tend to contain 10-50%
higher phytonutrients than conventional produce.
Check back next month when we talk about pesticide residues in your
foods.