Q: Is organic food more nutritious or more beneficial than conventional food?
A: Consumers of organic food cite three reasons for choosing organic over conventional food.
- Safety – Organic food is generally grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics or hormones.
- Environmentally friendly – Organic farming is generally more sustainable.
- Healthier – Consumers believe that organic food is higher in nutritional value
- It is true that organic foods tend to be more sustainable and grown with fewer chemicals, but there is still debate on whether or not organic food is healthier than conventional food.
- Current research indicates the following:
- A peer review of 50 studies conducted over the last 50 years found minor nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods.
- One study found no difference in the body’s ability to uptake and process dietary minerals derived from organic or conventional foods.
- Organic foods do carry less pesticide residue compared to conventional foods. However, most organic and conventional foods did not exceed government safety limits.
Current research does not indicate that organic food is more nutritious. As the popularity of organic food continues to grow, the debate will continue and further research will provide greater clarity on the subject.
The following websites were used as references in answering the question:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/organic-food-no-more-nutritious-than-conventionally-grown-food-201209055264
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/90/3/680.full