Is it worth spending money on organic foods
Educational Program Food / / December 19, 2019
Organic products are labeled in at least two or three times more expensive than usual. And it's not a fad stores. To earn the mark, the product must be grown and processed according to organic farming standards.
What is different about organic farming
As it does not use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not playing with genes to make products bigger, better and more resistant to pests, do not cut away the cattle antibiotics and growth hormone.
Farmers field fertilized with manure, let in on predatory insects pests, weeds compete with falling asleep ground wood chips and use other tricks to do without chemistry, but get harvest.
Cattle and poultry in the organic sector does not suffer: contains spacious pens, along with other individuals, grazing on fresh air and eating the right food, not questionable feed. Kill animals humanely: with the use of anesthetics and analgesics to reduce pain.
If the farm meets all the requirements, the farmer can be tested in an accredited institution and receive a special certificate. Without this certificate, farm and its products can not be called organic.
As labeled organic products
In the world there is no uniform labeling of organic products, but there are several recognized systems:
- USDA Organic (USA).
- EU sign (Regulations 834/2007 and 889/2008).
- Accreditation mark international organization IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements).
- Bio-Siegel (Germany).
- Agriculture biologique (or AB, France).
- KRAV (Sweden).
- JAS (Japan).
- Russian national standard (GOST 33980 and GOST 56508).
Also, in Europe and Asia, many private organizations conducting organic certification. For example, in Russia there is a system of voluntary certification of "Leaf of Life."
What is special about organic products
They are more antioxidants
It's believed that antioxidants from food to protectFree radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health the body from oxidative stress and the increaseDietary Antioxidants, Circulating Antioxidant Concentrations, Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Risk of All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Observational Studies lifetime.
And these antioxidants in organic fruits, vegetables and berries on a 6-69% increaseHigher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses., Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry, strawberry, and corn grown using conventional, organic, and sustainable agricultural practices., Agroecosystem Management and Nutritional Quality of Plant Foods: The Case of Organic Fruits and VegetablesThan in the products of traditional agriculture.
Fewer pesticides and heavy metals
The organic products foundHigher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. Four times less traces of pesticides and almost half of the toxic cadmium metal than in the food that is produced in conventional manner.
It is difficult to say whether it is possible to consider it a plus. After all, in conventional pesticide products is too lowOrganic FoodsTo harm the body.
So it is with heavy metalsOrganic food: buying more safety or just peace of mind? A critical review of the literature.. However, there is a hypothesis that they can accumulate in the body. If this is true, organic foods will help to avoid problems in the future.
More unsaturated fatty acids omega-3
This applies to organic milkHigher PUFA and n-3 PUFA, conjugated linoleic acid, α-tocopherol and iron, but lower iodine and selenium concentrations in organic milk: a systematic literature review and meta- and redundancy analyses. and meatComposition differences between organic and conventional meat: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.. Why is it good? Because fatty acids are omega-317 Science-Based Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids improve skin condition, Bones and joints, helps fight inflammation.
No GMO
The organic farm is forbidden to use genetically modified organisms. But this is hardly a plus, because the harm of GMOs has not been proved.
More than 3000 scientific studies have shownGMO 20-year safety endorsement: 280 science institutions, more than 3,000 studiesThat GMOs are not harmful to humans and the environment than conventional agricultural products.
conversely, Genetic modifications can get ridImpacts of GMO corn: A meta analysis from dangerous mycotoxins, less use of pesticidesA meta-analysis of the impacts of genetically modified crops. for the protection of fruit and increase the quality and quantity of the crop.
As organic food affects health
In the scientific community there is no consensus on this matter. Studies show that organic diet accelerates growthOrganic food and impact on human health: Assessing the status quo and prospects of researchdecreasesEffects of organically and conventionally produced feed on biomarkers of health in a chicken model. weight and the risk ofConsumption of organic foods and risk of atopic disease during the first 2 years of life in the Netherlands. allergies, strengthensEffect of diets based on foods from conventional versus organic production on intake and excretion of flavonoids and markers of antioxidative defense in humans. protection against oxidative stress and the immune system as a whole.
But these data are obtained either by using animal or a small number of people or for a short time.
Moreover, people eating organic products, generally moreHuman health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review. take care about their health. So you can not say for sure helped them organic foods and proper lifestyle.
In general, the evidence that organic food is healthier normal until enoughEffects of organic food consumption on human health; the jury is still out!.
As organic farming affects the environment
On the one hand, such production consumeComparative analysis of environmental impacts of agricultural production systems, agricultural input efficiency, and food choice less energy because it does not use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, the creation of which requires a lot of resources.
On the other - farms need more land and they produce as much greenhouse gas as conventional. Moreover, the manure, which replace synthetic fertilizers, falls into water and kills the flora and fauna there.
Scientists believe that the reduction of greenhouse gases, energy used and cultivated land is more important for the environment than the transition from conventional to organic farming.
This can be achieved in different ways. And one of them - the use of GMOs prohibited on organic farms.
Due to the use of genetic modificationEnvironmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use 1996-2015: Impacts on pesticide use and carbon emissions pesticides and herbicides is reduced by 18.6%, and farmers use less fuel, which reduces emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In general, organic agriculture can not be considered particularly useful for the environment.
Should I buy organic products
So, organic foods contain more antioxidants and omega-3Less pesticides and heavy metals. But it is not clear whether this is good for health. At the same time, organic farming is not so good for the environment.
Perhaps the only definite plus in the fact that animals do not suffer. If this is important to you, look for organic products in supermarkets and online stores.
Just look carefully at the packaging: if it is not recognized by the marking, the word "organic" may be just a publicity move.
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