Fresh and Fit Benefits of Organic Eating for Canines

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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4 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Eating Organic

The organic food industry is a booming business, and with the recent sale of natural-foods giant Whole Foods to Amazon, its expected to grow even larger in the near future. While some consumers buy organic because they believe its better for the environment, even more do so for health-related reasons, according to one 2016 survey.

What, exactly, are the health benefits of going organic? That depends on who you ask and which studies you consult. But if you do choose to buy organic foods, here are some science-backed bonuses youre likely to get in return.

Fewer pesticides and heavy metals

Fruits, vegetables and grains labeled organic are grown without the use of most synthetic pesticides or artificial fertilizers. (The National Organic Standard Board does allow some synthetic substances to be used.) While such chemicals have been deemed safe in the quantities used for conventional farming, health experts still warn about the potential harms of repeated exposure.

For example, the commonly used herbicide Roundup has been classified as a probable human carcinogen, and the insecticide chlorpyrifos has been associated with developmental delays in infants. Studies have also suggested that pesticide residuesat levels commonly found in the urine of kids in the U.S.may contribute to ADHD prevalence; theyve also been linked to reduced sperm quality in men.

A 2014 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Nutrition found that organically grown crops were not only less likely to contain detectable levels of pesticides, but because of differences in fertilization techniques, they were also 48% less likely to test positive for cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in the liver and kidneys.

More healthy fats

When it comes to meat and milk, organic products can have about 50% more omega-3 fatty acids, a type of unsaturated healthy fat, than conventionally produced products, according to a 2016 study in the British Journal of Nutrition. Organic milk tested in the study also had less saturated fat than non-organic.

These differences may come from the way organic livestock is raised, with a grass-fed diet and more time spent outdoors, say the studys authors. They believe that switching from conventional to organic products would raise consumers omega-3 intake without increasing overall calories or saturated fat.

No antibiotics or synthetic hormones

Conventional livestock can be fed antibiotics to protect against illness, making it easier for farmers to raise animals in crowded or unsanitary conditions. The FDA limited the use of certain antibiotics for livestock earlier this year, but loopholes in the legislation still exist. And with the exception of poultry, conventionally raised animals can also be injected with synthetic growth hormones, so theyll gain weight faster or produce more milk.

But traces of these substances can make their way to consumers, says Rolf Halden, professor and director of the Biodesign Center for Environmental Security at Arizona State University. Drug residue is believed to contribute to widespread antibiotic resistance, he says, and organic foodswhich are produced without antibioticsare intrinsically safer in this respect. Organic meat and dairy also cannot contain synthetic hormones, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

More antioxidants, in some cases

In a recent six-year study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers found that organic onions had about a 20% higher antioxidant content than conventionally grown onions. They also theorized that previous analysesseveral of which have found no difference in conventional versus organic antioxidant levelsmay have been thwarted by too-short study periods and confounding variables like weather.

The research was very well done, says Guy Crosby, adjunct associate professor of Nutrition at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. But he points out that this specific study takes just one aspect of phytochemicals and shows they can be improved under organic conditions. The question of whether organic foods are truly more nutritious is still debatable, he adds. Had the researchers chosen to measure a different vitamin or mineral, they may have found a different result.

The bottom line

Organic products are more expensive than conventional ones, and whether theyre really worth the extra cost is certainly a matter of choice. If you can afford all organic, thats fantastic, but its not feasible for most people, says registered dietitian Cynthia Sass. If its not, the most important groups to buy organic, in my opinion, include foods you eat daily and produce on the Dirty Dozen listthose with the highest pesticide residues. If people eat eggs, dairy and meat, she also recommends buying those organic.

Halden says that vulnerable groupsincluding pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people suffering from allergiesmay benefit the most from choosing organically produced foods. He also points out that a strictly organic diet can still be plenty unhealthy: Eating too much sugar and meat and too few vegetables is risky, regardless of whether the shopper picks from the conventional or organic grocery selection, he says.

Its also important for consumers to make educated decisions about why they choose to buy organic, says Crosbyand not to get hung up on individual studies that havent been supported by additional research. If youre trying to reduce exposure to pesticide residues, organic is a good choice, he says. On the other hand, if youre buying them because theyre more nutritious, the evidence doesnt broadly support that, he says.

8 Benefits Of Organic Food

The term organic food or organic products refers to the way agricultural products and livestock are grown, raised, and processed. Organic agriculture is different from the conventional way of farming.

Organic crops that are considered organic produce have to be grown without any GMOs, pesticides, synthetic herbicides, or fertilizers.

When we say organic livestock that means that the livestock raised for meat, eggs, or dairy products has to be raised in conditions accommodating to their natural behaviors, with the ability to graze on pasture. They also need to be fed organic feed and forage, and cant be given any antibiotics or growth hormones. Thats why you often hear that organic meat is better for you.

There are so many health benefits of eating an organic diet. It would be amazing for public health if people tried to eat an organic diet more. You dont need to change much you still eat conventional foods you normally eat, but youre making sure youre eating healthy food (and organic food is important for food safety).

8 Benefits Of Organic Food

Organic products are fresher

Organic products are much fresher than regular, conventional products. The reason for that is that non-organic products are infused with preservatives that make them last longer. But organic produce doesnt have any of that, which means its fresher. So, thats one of the best benefits of eating an organic diet.

No antibiotics are used in organic products

Non-organic foods (livestock specifically) often have antibiotics in them. When humans consume that food that has antibiotics in it, humans also end up consuming the antibiotics. That can create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, which can alter the humans immune system, and make them not be able to fight diseases. But when you eat organic products, there are no antibiotics added to that, so its completely safe to eat.

Organic products arent genetically modified

Organic products are GMO-free, which is something you should look for in everything that you consume. That means that they are not genetically engineered (their DNAs arent altered), but conventionally grown.

While there still isnt concrete proof, many scientists believe that GMO food causes slower brain growth, internal organ damage, and so much more. So, organic food is better for food safety.

Organic products are better for the environment

Organic farms use less energy, they pollute the environment a lot less than conventional farms, they conserve water more, increase soil fertility, and reduce soil erosion. Farms that use synthetic pesticides can cause damage to people living nearby, as well as to birds and animals, so organic farms are safer for everyone, since they dont use any pesticides.

Organic products taste better

Organic products taste much better than non-organic products. They have more nutrients, and the mineral and sugar structures in them are much tastier, because they had time to develop and mature naturally, and no artificial chemicals were added to them.

With organic fruits and vegetables, youre getting the real and full taste of the product, not an altered one. The quality of the flavors in organic fruits and vegetables is so much higher than in non-organic ones.

Organic products dont have any poison in them

Organic farming doesnt use any artificial and harmful chemicals to keep the pests away. That means that they arent contaminated with any dangerous chemical substances that could be harmful to consumers, unlike most conventional farms.

Organic products are free of pesticides

Pesticides can be very harmful to humans. While they are good for keeping pests away from fruit and vegetables, they are unnatural chemicals and shouldnt be consumed by humans. Almost all non-organic fruit and vegetables have pesticides, and some even with very high levels of pesticide, which makes them potentially harmful to consumers. Even small amounts of pesticide residue can be harmful if you consume it for every single meal (if all of your produce has pesticie residue).

On the other hand, organic products are pesticide-free, which makes them healthier and much safer to consume.

Organic products have more antioxidants

It is a well-known fact that antioxidants have a very positive impact on our health. As many studies show, antioxidants are even healthier when they come from organic food.

The reason for that is that non-organic food has chemicals, and they can lower the value of antioxidants, whereas with organic fruit and vegetables, there are no chemicals, so you get full benefits of antioxidants when you eat your produce.

Tips For Buying Organic Food

Compare prices

Organic food is usually more expensive than non-organic food, because it takes longer to produce and there is less organic food in grocery stores than non-organic food.

So, how can you buy organic food without breaking the bank? Well, compare prices in different stores. Many stores have different prices, sales, coupons, so look around and try to find an option that is the most budget-friendly.

Shop at farmers markets

Farmers markets can often be a lot more budget-friendly than grocery stores or supermarkets, plus, they have more fresh, organic fruit and veggies for you to choose from. So, go to your local farmers market, and stock up on some delicious, healthy, and organic fruit and vegetables.

Buy fruits and veggies that are in season

This tip is very important buy fruits and veggies that are in season. When buying organic produce, you need to shop in season. It not only makes it less expensive, but youll be able to find what youre looking for a lot easier if its in season when youre shopping. Because organic produce doesnt have any chemicals added to them, you cant get them when theyre not in season.

Join food co-ops

Cooperative grocery stores usually offer lower prices for their members that pay an annual fee. So, if you want to buy organic food on a budget, joining a food co-op would be a good idea. In the end, it ends up being worth it, because youd be saving all of the time, especially since eating organic food all the time can get quite pricey usually.

Buy only stuff you know is healthy

While fruits an d vegetables that are organic are always healthy, there are many products youll find that are labeled as organic or certified organic that arent actually healthy. So, keep in mind that just because something is organic, it doesnt mean its always healthy. Organic standards dont mean something is authomatically healthy.

It simply means that for fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy products, organic products are healthier than non-organic ones. So, organic meat, organic produce, and organic dairy products are worth checking out in the store.

But organic snacks, desserts, or baked goods arent necessarily healthy just because theyre organic. More often than not, theyre actually not healthy. They have a lot of fats, sugars, and other unhealthy stuff, and they want to make them seem healthy by putting an organic stamp on them.

So, be smart about which products are actually healthy when theyre organic, and which ones are just labeled that way to get you to think theyre healthy.

What products to buy organic

For some produce, its very important to buy it organic, for all of the reasons listed above.

But for some, their pesticide levels are very low, so if you cant afford to buy everything organic, or cant find everything organic, there are some products where its okay to buy non-organic ones.

So, heres a list of products you definitely should buy organic, whenever its possible:

Now heres a list of items that generally have low levels of pesticides, so it would be fine to buy them non-organic, if you want to save some money, or you cant find organic versions: