Although I don’t think it will be a surprise to anyone, there does appear to be a formal study confirming that organic foods are likely to contain more nutritional value:
[i]Organic agriculture got a big boost Monday from a study proving that fruit grown without chemical inputs contains significantly larger quantities of at least three compounds associated with improved health.
Scientists at the University of California in Davis grew two otherwise identical plots of kiwis side-by-side, one organically and the other with a standard mix of herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizer.
Upon reaching maturity, and after different periods of storage, the organic fruit showed 18 and 27 percent higher levels, respectively, of polyphenols and antioxidant activity, both widely linked with health benefits.
A raging scientific debate over whether eating organic makes a difference has not prevented organic food sales from soaring 20 percent a year, reaching some 28 billion dollars in 2006, according to the Bonn-based International Federation of Agriculture Movements.
This is one of the first studies, the authors contend, that factors out all other possible influences in comparing conventionally grown and chemical-free food plants.
…
The authors of the study, published in the peer-reviewed British journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, conjecture that the difference in polyphenol levels may be due to the negative impact of chemical farming.[/i]
I’ve been shopping organic for about three years now, I think. I wasn’t 100% sure it was really any better for me. I did know that it tastes better, and that’s not just a mental thing.
Glad to hear I’m also getting some nutritional value out of it.
Actually, there was a study I posted long ago about strawberries slowing growth of cancer cells. The organic strawberries were shown to slow the growth of the tumor even further.
I do know that when I look on the back of the organic spinach at the store it contains much more vitamin c, minerals, fiber, and even protein than the other brands of spinach.
However, I don’t just buy organic food because I believe it has a higher nutrional value, but also because it has ingredients that I can pronounce; and no HFCS, trans fat, or even MSG.
The organic raw milk I buy locally is really good too. I really trust the farmers and they put a lot of heart into the milk that they produce. I don’t mind paying a few extra bucks to support those people.
I will try to find the study for all of you.
That’s a great article. I always thought Organic produce tasted better. We recently joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) co-op in our area. All organic and you get a bushel of produce per week during the growing season. First time all our produce will be organic as well as milk and eggs. It certainly can’t hurt.