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Let's talk about organic foods
The pros & cons of shopping organic
- Written by Joe Jackson
Customers are now taking more time and care when they go shopping for food. Gone are the days of buying the cheapest products from the cheapest store. They are increasingly on the lookout for food that fits with their health and environmental preferences from brands that align with their values. Organic food has been the beneficiary of this, with sales of organic food and drink hitting a record 2.45bn last year. (1)
Despite its growing popularity, people are still left wondering what the difference is between organic vs. non-organic foods? What are the pros and possible cons? And fundamentally should I be taking more care with regards to food quality?
What is Organic Food?
So, is there any difference between organic and non-organic food? On the surface of things, the answer is no. They look very similar and it would take a very astute pallet to decipher the difference taste-wise. The most fundamental difference comes from how the foods are produced. Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms. But why is this important?
Why organic?
While we have seen a large shift from non-organic to organic in terms of popularity, many people still are unsure about the benefits. Let's take a look at them:
1) Nutritional benefits - “A calorie is a calorie” is a dietary slogan, and not overeating is indeed an important health measure. However, we should not be focusing solely on calories but also the quality of food that we are consuming. Studies have shown that micronutrients are higher in organic foods as opposed to conventional food. The total micronutrient content, expressed as a percent difference, was also higher in organic as compared to conventionally grown produce. (2)
2) Less pesticide risk - A 2012 study showed that consumption of organic foods may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. (3) Avoiding these toxins, pesticide residues, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria is ideal to keep in mind when we are doing our weekly shops.
3) Environmental benefits - Organic farming is more sustainable when it comes to food production. Conventional farming leads to causing biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and increased water pollution due to the usage of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. (4)
Athletes on organic
Athletes have also reaped the benefits of organic foods to maximise their performance - LeBron James, Sidney Crosby and Tom Brady all ascribe to the theory that organic gives the body the right nutrients as opposed to the pesticides and chemicals used in conventional farming. (5)
This is backed up by Julie Burns, nutritionist for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bears and White Sox:
“I encourage athletes to eat organic foods, because they give the body more of what it needs health- promoting nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and plant compounds and less of what it doesn't - pesticides and chemicals" (6)
The cons of organic
#1 Price - The price is by far the most cited reason for people choosing to avoid buying organic. Consumers spend 25p more on 2 pints of semi-skimmed organic milk (£1.14) at most big supermarkets and 45p more on an organic 800g wholemeal loaf (£1.20) at Sainsbury's. [7] Although the price may put some people off, it is a small price to pay for the additional health and environmental benefits. A way to get around this is by considering how much is spent weekly on things that aren't health-promoting - like alcohol and nicotine!
#2 Opposing evidence - There have been a few studies that claim that the information regarding the additional nutritional value is still limited. A study conducted in 2016, for instance, found that the health benefits of organic foods are unclear. [8]
#3 Organic junk food is STILL junk food - We shouldn’t assume that because something is produced organically it's going to always be healthy; for example - you can purchase organic cookies and organic ice cream, and we all know they are not exactly “health foods”. So, if you are trying to lose weight or add in more of the good stuff, don't let just the organic label trick you.
The cons of organic
#1 Price - The price is by far the most cited reason for people choosing to avoid buying organic. Consumers spend 25p more on 2 pints of semi-skimmed organic milk (£1.14) at most big supermarkets and 45p more on an organic 800g wholemeal loaf (£1.20) at Sainsbury's. [7] Although the price may put some people off, it is a small price to pay for the additional health and environmental benefits. A way to get around this is by considering how much is spent weekly on things that aren't health-promoting - like alcohol and nicotine!
#2 Opposing evidence - There have been a few studies that claim that the information regarding the additional nutritional value is still limited. A study conducted in 2016, for instance, found that the health benefits of organic foods are unclear. [8]
#3 Organic junk food is STILL junk food - We shouldn’t assume that because something is produced organically it's going to always be healthy; for example - you can purchase organic cookies and organic ice cream, and we all know they are not exactly “health foods”. So, if you are trying to lose weight or add in more of the good stuff, don't let just the organic label trick you.
We hope this has helped you understand why eating organic - if affordable for you - can have many health benefits. But remember that just because it is organic, it doesn't mean that it is healthy! Always look at the ingredients and nutritional facts to make a better judgment on whether your food choices are actually healthy.
Any topics you would like to hear more on?
Email talk@truthorigins.co.uk
References
1) https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/feb/05/organic-food-and-drink-sales-rise-to- 245bn
2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21929333/
3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22944875/
4) https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2019/10/22/organic-food-better-environment/
5) https://medium.com/@andrewmerle/the-eating-habits-of-the-best-athletes-in-the-world- 20fa1462ea1
6) https://www.stack.com/a/the-benefits-of-organic-foods:~:text=%22I%20encourage%20athletes%20to%20eat,%2C%20founder%20of%20SportFu el%
7) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/11/organic-food-more-antioxidants- study
8) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22944875/
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