Nutrition of Organic Food

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People who decide to go organic when it comes to buying groceries usually buy them with the rationale that they are healthier for our bodies and more safe for us.  Researchers from Stanford University tested these claims by comparing nutrients between traditionally grown and organic fruits, grains, meats, poultry, and vegetables.  They discovered that there was negligible differences in the nutritional content between traditional and organic foods, with the exception of higher omega-3 fatty acid content in organic chicken ad milk, and slightly higher phosphorous in many organic foods.

A common misconception is that no pesticides are used to grow organic food.  Organic foods are allowed to contain certain pesticides.  Farmers often use "natural" pesticides for organic crops, with some even using synthetic pesticides if they are on an approved list.  Organic produce was found to be slightly safer, with 30% lower pesticide residue than conventionally grown produce.  Pesticide levels in both were within safe limits, however, it is unclear what that means to different individuals.  A safe level of pesticide residue for one person might not be a safe amount for another person.  Buying organic foods for the reason of better nutrition is not backed with any solid evidence, but if you are buying them out of concern for pesticides, it may be worth it to buy them if you can afford the additional cost on your grocery bill.

 Works Cited:

 https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/organic-food-no-more-nutritious-than-conventionally-grown-food-201209055264

 http://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/2015/08/the-straight-truth-about-organic/#gs.dCxr8gQ

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