Is Organic Food Really Better for You?

Have you ever stood in a grocery store trying to decide between the organic strawberries and the less expensive conventionally grown ones? And by the way, how did modern agricultural practices utilizing monoculture and pesticides co-opt the word “conventional”? For most of history, organic farming was the default method. Now, as the supposedly unconventional practice, it’s been relegated to the sidelines.

If possible, I encourage you to go for the organic option, and not just because there may be health benefits for you. Organically grown food is definitely better for farmers and farmworkers, and healthier for the planet.

I don’t love the thought of consuming herbicide and insecticide residues, but I would be tempted to buy less expensive conventionally grown produce if it wasn’t for the guilt I feel that my savings are coming at the expense of farmworkers’ health. They are the ones exposed to high levels of pesticides. Exposure to many different herbicides and insecticides is associated with respiratory diseases in farmers and farmworkers. And people exposed to pesticides, whether farmworkers or those who work in pesticide production, have DNA in their cells that is more damaged than other people.

Also significant is the harm to plants, animals, fish, soil quality, and bodies of water from pesticides and runoff from chemical fertilizers.

And although the evidence isn’t considered to be conclusive, there are reasons that we might expect personal health benefits from eating organically grown foods: lower pesticide residues and possibly higher nutrient levels.

Are There More Nutrients in Organic Foods?

Sometimes you’ll get more vitamins and minerals from organic foods compared to conventional, and sometimes you won’t. When nutrients are measured in a particular food grown organically and compared with the same type of food grown conventionally, in some cases differences are found, and in others they aren’t. This seems to depend on the particular food, the nutrient in question, and other aspects of the study. What you will likely get more of in organic produce is antioxidant polyphenols that among other things support a healthy gut flora. And organic dairy products and meats typically contain more of the healthy omega-3 fats.

 My sister hates the thought of eating any food that may have traces of pesticides. She abused her body for years with cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, and figures her body has dealt with more than its share of toxic chemicals. Now she goes to great lengths to avoid any food that is not 100 percent organic. It’s important to her to avoid consuming potentially toxic herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, but this isn’t easy. It means that she and her family don’t go to most restaurants, and it’s hard on their budget. There’s no question—she chooses the organic strawberries believing they are better for her health.

Are There Harmful Levels of Pesticides in Conventional Foods?

The FDA tested thousands of foods and concluded that the levels of individual herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides in our foods are within safe limits over 90 percent of the time. Unfortunately, evidence is lacking about long-term and additive effects. The USDA reported that conventionally grown apples typically contained residues of 4 to 14 different pesticides.

Probably the most important factor shaping my food choices is taste, and in my mind organic fruits and vegetables taste better. Our mother was an early adopter of organic gardening, and I took for granted the delicious tomatoes, apricots, and grapes that she grew. I saw firsthand how easy it is to compost and use this as cheap organic fertilizer to grow appealing healthy produce.

One of my favorite memories of my mother is a composting story. Where ever she was living, she would find a way to compost. At 83, she lived in an apartment in a small senior community. Shortly after moving in, she dug a hole and started burying her compost. Someone saw her, and fearing that her compost would attract rodents, the management told her she had to stop. Months later when I was sitting in mom’s living room one evening, I saw a flashlight flickering in the back yard. I found my mother secretly digging a hole in her garden after dark to bury her compost. Go mom!

Organic Isn’t Always Expensive

The cost of organic foods may be prohibitive for many people, but the more organic food we buy, the more the prices will come down. Costco currently stocks organic frozen blueberries, extra virgin olive oil, sugars, drinks, nuts, and more. Walmart carried organic items as well. I’m lucky to live near an natural foods store that stocks reasonably priced organic foods, including many in bulk that I can portion out into my reusable bags and bottles.

Note: A comprehensive review from this March summarized 147 studies that compared nutrient levels in organic vs. conventional vegetables, fruits, and other kinds of foods. In 42 percent of the food comparisons there were no significant differences between the organic and conventional foods. But there were significant differences in 29 percent of the foods compared, and mixed results in another 29 percent of cases.