Is organic produce better?

I think we can all agree that eating more fruits and vegetables is healthier than choosing to eat a candy bar and cheese doodles. But, when it comes down to which fruits and vegetables, well, it can be a tricky exercise. What is the nutrient content? Glycemic index? Is it organic or conventionally grown? Adding to my confusion is the fact that there is often conflicting research information released about our foods. It's no wonder on a recent trip to the grocery store my husband questioned, "Is organic produce really better?"

Well, let's see. There was a study done in the UK by the Food Standards Agency (FDS). This is the UK's version of our FDA.  They stated that "there are no important differences in the nutrition content, or any additional health benefits, of organic food when compared with conventionally produced food." Let's take a look at the first part of this statement - nutrition content.

There are other studies that have shown that organically grown food does contain more nutrients.  One example is an article in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. It states that a study done on organically grown corn, strawberries and marionberries showed "significantly higher levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants than conventionally grown foods." I think it's especially interesting to note this research suggested that "pesticides and herbicides actually thwart the production of phenolics." These are chemicals that act as a plant's natural defense.  They also happen to be good for our health. 

Which brings me to the second part of the FDS's statement where they say there weren't "any additional health benefits of organic food when compared with conventionally produced food." Well, we know that organic foods don't come with any extra chemicals in the form of herbicides and pesticides! I copied this straight from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website: "Laboratory studies show that pesticides can cause health problems, such as birth defects, nerve damage, cancer, and other effects that might occur over a long period of time.  However, these effects depend on how toxic the pesticide is and how much of it is consumed."  The EPA also states: RISK = TOXICITY x EXPOSURE.

If a health risk increases in relation to the toxicity of the chemicals used in growing fruits and vegetables and the amount of these foods I'm eating, then it makes sense to me to go organic. Not just because I'm consuming less chemicals that are bad for me, but because with organic I believe I'm also getting more of the plants good stuff. So, I think organic really is better. 

Sources
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2009/jul/organic
http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/C/2003471.html
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/risks.htm

Eating Healthy with the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) sent out an email today encouraging active participation in lobbying our elected officials to support the Lautenberg Bill. According to a Washington Post article, the bill "would require manufacturers to prove the safety of chemicals before they enter the marketplace."

Incredibly, manufacturers currently ARE NOT REQUIRED to submit health and safety data to the EPA for the 84,000 chemicals now in use. The Lautenberg Bill would mandate that chemical manufacturers make this health information available to the EPA. Then the EPA does their review to determine whether the chemicals are safe enough to remain on the market.

Currently, the government has little or no information about the risks of most chemicals in use. The Washington Post article mentions that the government cannot act unless a chemical poses a health threat, but the EPA cannot force companies to provide the data needed that reveals the risks. So, in other words little action can be taken until the damage is done!

It's easy to become cynical about this situation and to feel powerless. I'm trying to eat more fruits and veggies, but by doing so I may be increasing my pesticide consumption! It's so frustrating. What's a health conscious person to do? Well, in addition to lobbying our elected officials to consider this bill, we can take some steps to protect ourselves. One step is knowing which foods are most effected by the use of chemical pesticides. Check out the link to EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides. Just click on the title of this post. It's a quick reference guide that shows the "Clean 15" and the "Dirty Dozen."

Armed with this knowledge, my next smoothie will have a few less unwanted chemicals in it!