There are many advantages to opting for organic when shopping at farmers markets or purchasing from online organic health food stores, including higher levels of vitamins and minerals in organic produce, as well as more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in organic meat and dairy.
Organic food consumption has also been associated with reduced rates of allergic symptoms among infants and reduced eczema risk in adults, according to one prospective cohort study. Unfortunately, few clinical trials have measured direct improvements in health outcomes between organic versus conventional diets.
Less Pesticides
Organic health foods have long been available at specialty health food stores or farmers markets; now however, organic options are widely available at mainstream supermarkets as consumer demand for them continues to rise and research ties diet with health outcomes. They’ve even become part of many hospital diets!
Multiple studies have linked organic food consumption with lower levels of pesticide residues. This is especially crucial for pregnant women and young children as ingesting high amounts of organophosphorus insecticides such as organophosphate insecticides or herbicides such as glyphosate may have detrimental effects on development.
Organic options also reduce your exposure to toxic metals such as cadmium found in conventionally farmed grains. Studies have also demonstrated that eating organic meat reduces antibiotic resistance as animals do not receive growth hormones that could pass onto us and contribute to resistant bacteria strains.
More Nutrients
Organic fruits and vegetables often boast higher concentrations of essential nutrients than their conventional counterparts, due to the fertile soil used to grow them and its abundance of beneficial microorganisms. Furthermore, organic meat and dairy products offer additional heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Consumers who choose organic health foods tend to eat a more varied diet than those who don’t, which helps ensure they receive all of the essential vitamins and nutrients for good health.
Observational studies have demonstrated that consumers of organic food tend to have lower intakes of pesticide residues and greater consumptions of antioxidants compared to non-organic counterparts, but longer term whole diet substitution studies must be completed in order to ascertain if these differences translate into real health advantages.
Better Taste
Organic food industries frequently make claims regarding the taste of their products, often asserting that organic ones taste better than conventional versions; however, studies on this matter have had mixed outcomes.
Studies show that consumers prefer organic fruits and vegetables over conventionally raised ones in terms of taste and texture. Consumers also tend to favor organic meat and dairy products over those raised traditionally.
Organic foods have long been touted for their health benefits, with several studies finding a link between taste and organic consumption and lower rates of cancers (breast, endometrium, ovary, colorectum prostate and pancreas) than non or very few organic eaters and lower incidence rates for recurrent otitis media and allergic sensitization; in another cohort study organic diet intake also led to greater consumption of antioxidants and phenolic compounds believed beneficial for health benefits.
Better Health
Eating organic food may reduce your risk for certain health conditions; however, evidence to back this claim remains limited and inconsistent.
Some studies have demonstrated a decline in cancer risk among those who consume organic foods regularly, and organic meat and dairy consumption may reduce recurrent wheeze episodes for children, and reduces their eczema risk as well.
Consider that consumers may choose organic food for various reasons, including protecting the environment, believing organic produce to be more nutritive or simply feeling better about themselves and their purchasing choices. Research findings should take this into account when interpreting results of any study conducted on organic eaters.
