Are Organic Foods Better?
With the creation of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), many believe that organic foods are superior to GMOs. This has led many to avoid consuming GMOs and choose to only consume organic foods. The basis of this belief and action has been centered on the perceived benefits of organic foods compared to conventionally grown foods. While it is true that organic foods have more nutrients than conventionally grown foods, there is limited information to suggest that there are better benefits in consuming organic foods.
Organic foods have more nutrients than conventionally grown foods, but the amount is not significant when compared to conventionally grown foods. In fact, studies have shown that organic foods have little to moderate more amounts of nutrients compared to conventionally grown foods. But organic foods have more key minerals and plant compounds, making people believe that they are healthier or better. A 2002 University of Missouri study also found that organic oranges have 30 percent more vitamin C than conventionally grown oranges. Despite the abundance of nutrients and minerals in organic foods, researchers believe that this does not constitute organic foods being better than conventionally grown foods.
Research finds that there is limited information to suggest that consuming organic foods is better. In fact, a study published by Stanford University found that organic foods do not have better nutritional benefits than conventionally grown foods. Contrastingly, an analysis responding to the Stanford study found that organic foods have more antioxidants than conventionally grown foods. Despite this analysis, Harvard Medical School agrees that there does not seem to be a nutritional advantage of consuming organic foods compared to conventionally grown foods. This is because the foods have very similar amounts of vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. Given these studies, neither organic foods nor conventionally grown foods seem to be better than the other.
Organic foods and conventionally grown foods have almost no differences. There is some more nutrient content in organic foods compared to conventionally grown foods, but the differences are almost nonexistent and insignificant. Given these comparisons, consuming organic or conventionally grown foods makes almost no difference in one’s health. One must choose which to consume based on their own preferences as well as budget, as organic foods are more costly than conventionally grown foods.
Sources:
Are organic vegetables more nutritious after all? NPR. 2014 Jul 11.
www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/07/11/330760923/are-organic-vegetables-more-
nutritious-after-all.
Meyerowitz, S. Are Organic Foods More Nutritious? Organic.
organic.org/are-organic-foods-more-nutritious/.
Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious? Mayo Clinic. 2020 Apr 8.
www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-
food/art-20043880.
Should you go organic? Harvard Health. 2015 Sep 9.
www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/should-you-go-organic.