5 organic foods (scientifically) healthier than conventional foods

Organic food sales hit a record $ 43 billion in 2016, an 8.4% increase from 2015. And it’s not surprising – not only is the purchase of organic food supporting the economy. sustainable agriculture is also healthier: after all, organic products do not contain harmful chemicals. and pesticides you find in conventional foods.

But while it would be great if we could only buy organic food, unfortunately it can be difficult for our bank accounts. So if you have to choose, here are our organic food recommendations that are particularly worth the price hike.

1. Strawberries

Strawberries are worth buying organic for two very important reasons.

The first is that conventional strawberries are heavily treated with pesticides. They’re the number one culprit on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list – a ranking of products that contain pesticide residues – and because they’re so delicate, people don’t always wash them as well as they do. should. Since the recommendations on the EWG list are made for products prepared for consumption – in other words, already washed – if you don’t wash your conventional strawberries well enough, you could ingest even more pesticides.

But studies have also shown that organic strawberries are demonstrably better than their conventional cousins ​​when it comes to their antioxidant profile. EWG scientist Dawn Undurraga notes that the results of this study show that you can eat “three servings of organic fruits and vegetables and get the equivalent of five servings of conventional fruits and vegetables.”

She also notes that although data is not available for all berries, “that does not mean that the same is not true for blackberries”.

“If we only talk about the foods tested, we assume that they are better, and they probably are not,” she continues. So if strawberries aren’t your favorite, you can probably go with any organic berry that’s high in antioxidants and get the same benefits.

2. Beef

A 2016 study conducted by scientists from the UK, Poland, Norway, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Greece and Turkey found that organic meat contained 50 percent more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional meat. These fats are particularly essential for the health of the brain.

This health benefit is largely related to the grass feeding of livestock which is required for organic certification. Grass-fed meat is also richer in vitamin K2, a fat-soluble vitamin found in cod liver oil and eggs that works hand in hand with vitamins A and D. Vitamin K2 is also a catalyst for calcium, and it has been linked to lower the risk of heart disease because it keeps calcium in your bones and out of your arteries.

3. Cow’s milk

The same 2016 study also showed that dairy products made with organic cow’s milk contained more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional products, not to mention 40% more linoleic acid and a little more iron, from vitamin E and some carotenoids.

But you’ll want to be even more picky about cow’s milk dairy products than just picking out boxes with an organic label. Many organic milk producers have attempted to artificially increase omega-3 fatty acids in their products by adding DHA seaweed oil, marketed as an organic nutritional enhancement thanks to a 2012 misreading of federal regulations which has been “quietly recognized” but not yet addressed. by the USDA. Not only is this GMO corn syrup fed with algae oil, its presence can be proof that organic growers don’t adhere to strict grass-feeding regulations, which means that you will miss out on the other health benefits this practice offers.

4. Kale

Kale and other leafy greens are among the foods most contaminated with pesticides, with USDA testing showing traces of 55 types of pesticides in the past two years. If you can’t foot the bill for the higher price of organic kale, you can go with conventional broccoli, which has fewer pesticides.

“The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of exposure to pesticides,” explains the Electronic working group. “Eating conventionally grown produce is much better than skipping fruits and vegetables. “

5. Onions

A recent study in Ireland found that organic onions contain more antioxidants and flavonols than conventional onions.

“While this is a relatively small finding, it is important because the study lasted six years, which is considered the longest study of its kind,” says Dive Brief.

The study authors linked this gap to differences in soil management practices, including organic fertilizers, crop rotation and cover crops, proving once and for all that organic farming practices are unsuccessful. not only better for the environment, they are also better for your health.

Linked to organic authority
Do organic products spoil faster than conventional products?
Strawberries topped EWG’s Dirty Dozen List Again, Spinach Rises to Second
Careless inspections, misuse of pesticides on organic imports, revealed in USDA audit