Organic vs. conventional food: Which one best serves your health?
10/07/2020 / By Skye Anderson / Comments
Organic vs. conventional food: Which one best serves your health?

Healthy eating is something many people strive to do these days. With the abundance of information about health and nutrition that you can find on the Internet, more people are becoming more conscious about their food choices.

When it comes to food options, one of the most hotly debated topics out there is whether or not organic foods really are safer and more nutritious than conventional foods. While several studies have been done on the subject, their results have been conflicting.

So what is the difference between organic foods and conventional foods? And what does science say about them?

How organic foods are produced

Organic foods refer to agricultural products that are cultivated and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, fertilizers and additives. Another draw of organic foods is that they are grown without the help of genetic engineering.

Organic foods were once only sold in health food stores, but since the boom of superfoods and healthy food options, they have become regular features in groceries. People who go organic opt for these foods not only because they think they’re healthier and cleaner, but also because they’re produced through farming practices that do not endanger the environment.

Here are some of the goals that organic farming practices are designed to meet: (h/t to MayoClinic.org)

  • Improve soil and water quality
  • Reduce pollution
  • Enable natural livestock behavior
  • Promote a self-sustaining cycle of resources on a farm
  • Provide a safe habitat for livestock

In order to produce organic fruits, vegetables and whole grains, farmers grow their crops using natural fertilizers like manure and compost. They control the growth of weeds using natural methods like crop rotation, hand weeding, mulching and tilling. When it comes to pests, organic farmers also rely on natural methods, such as birds, insects and traps, or use natural pesticides.

But plant-based foods aren’t the only products that can be produced through organic means. Dairy products, poultry and red meat can also be organic. Farmers who sell products like these raise their livestock by giving them free access to the outdoors. They also make sure to feed their animals only feed that’s free of hormones and GMOs.

When it comes to disease prevention, organic farmers also rely on natural methods like clean housing, rotational grazing and a healthy diet instead of giving their livestock antibiotics and other medications. But because of the labor-intensive nature of organic farming, as well as the limited supply of organic foods compared to demand, organic produce cost more than conventional produce.

How conventional foods are produced

Although conventional foods look the same as their organic counterparts, there are quite a few differences between them. In terms of production, conventional produce are grown with the help of chemical fertilizers that enhance plant growth. They are also sprayed with chemical pesticides to prevent pests and weeds from destroying them.

Livestock, on the other hand, are raised by conventional farmers often without access to the outdoors. They are also fed non-organic, GMO feed and given hormones to accelerate their growth. In addition, conventional farmers have no qualms giving their animals antibiotics and vaccines to prevent them for falling ill.

Many farmers prefer conventional farming practices because they cost less money and result in higher yields. But in exchange for these advantages, conventional farming takes it toll on the environment. The chemicals and methods used in conventional farming are said to cause a lot of ecological problems, such as water pollution or contamination, reduced soil productivity, pesticide resistance and decreasing numbers of pollinators and other beneficial insects due to habitat loss.

Organic vs. conventional produce: Which one is safer and more nutritious?

According to a 2014 study that appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition, both organic and conventional produce offer the same amount of essential nutrients, such as vitamins C and E and trace minerals. Conventional foods contain more protein than organic foods, but the latter contains less pesticide residue and lower levels of heavy metals than the former.

Organic foods are also often fresher than conventional ones because they aren’t pumped with preservatives to increase their shelf life. But the most notable advantages organic foods have over conventional foods are their abundance in certain beneficial components.

In a 2016 study, European researchers reported that the meat and milk from animals raised in organic farms had up to 50 percent more omega-3 fatty acids than the meat and milk produced by conventionally raised livestock. Organic meat and dairy products also contained higher levels of vitamin E and carotenoids, plus 40 percent more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a fatty acid found only in milk that has many beneficial properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer and immune-modulating activities.

Organic foods also contain higher amounts of antioxidants, which help prevent chronic diseases, than conventional foods. According to researchers from Washington State University, this is likely because organic crops are not protected by chemical pesticides, so they produce more antioxidant compounds to defend themselves from environmental threats.

Another reason could be that organic crops don’t get as much fertilizer as conventional crops. The more fertilizer crops receive, the faster they grow. But this rapid development reduces their nutrient content, so conventional crops end up with fewer beneficial compounds than organic crops.

Organic and conventional farming practices produce foods that may look and taste the same, but they differ in terms of nutrient and pesticide content. Although organically grown foods are more expensive because they require more manual labor and are limited in quantity, they contain less harmful residues and more beneficial nutrients than conventional foods. Organic foods are also grown using eco-friendly and sustainable practices that help reduce environmental pollution, so choosing organic is not only good for your health, but also for the environment.

Sources:

TheDiabetesCouncil.com

MayoClinic.org

HelpGuide.org

Science.HowStuffWorks.com

OpenOregon.PressBooks.pub

NPR.org

ScienceDaily.com

IntechOpen.com

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