Organic Foods Have Nutrition Edge
Are organic foods really more nutritious than conventionally grown foods? This controversy continues to rage even as organic foods become more popular, readily available and tightly regulated.
The problem in making this comparison is that growing conditions on farms, both organic and conventional, can be highly variable due to soil conditions, water quality, weather and geographical location. For example, it’s possible that fruits and vegetables grown in organic soil with poor mineral balance may contain lower levels of some nutrients than conventional produce grown in better soil conditions. Or vice-versa.
However, if all growing conditions are fairly equal, it appears organic fruits and vegetables may have an edge.
Researchers at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture in Switzerland conducted a field study to compare golden delicious apples grown organically to those grown conventionally. The apples were grown in orchards within 1 km of each other, with the same microclimate, soil conditions, and planting system. The results, published in 2000 by the International Society for Horticultural Science’s Acta Horticulturae, found the organic apples to have firmer flesh, higher taste scores, higher phenol content, and better mineral profiles. This parallels the findings of Dr. Virginia Worthington, who in 2001 published a study comparing nutritional quality of organic vs. conventional fruits, vegetables and grains in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine. Dr. Worthington found levels of vitamin C and many minerals higher in organic fruits and vegetables. In some cases, nutrients were as much as 30 percent higher in organic foods.
This parallels the findings of Dr. Virginia Worthington, who in 2001 published a study comparing nutritional quality of organic vs. conventional fruits, vegetables and grains in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine. Dr. Worthington found levels of vitamin C and many minerals higher in organic fruits and vegetables. In some cases, nutrients were as much as 30 percent higher in organic foods. It’s a no-brainer that organic fruits and vegetables are less likely to contain dangerous levels of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. But it appears organic foods — at least those grown under good growing conditions — may also contain higher levels of important nutrients as well. It’s just one more reason to choose organic whenever possible.