Organic Food Versus Conventionally Grown Foods

Everyone wants to eat nutritious foods and most people can tell you exactly what they are. People are divided into two camps: conventionally grown (cg) versus organic foods. By far, most of the cg foods that are available to us are processed. The seeds for plant products have been genetically engineered and some have been irradiated. The plants are grown using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Once harvested, the plants are refined and vitamins and minerals added to them. During processing, the food is further enhanced with vitamins, minerals, preservatives and colourings. Finally, the product is canned, boxed or frozen before it reaches the consumer. Today, over $2.1 trillion of foods, beverages and consumer package goods are sold annually.

Organic foods are grown without the use of irradiation, bioengineering or pesticides. Meat products are raised without antibiotics or hormones. The USDA defines organic three ways. The term 100% organic means only organic ingredients are found in the product. Organic means that it has 95% organic ingredients. Made with organic ingredients means that only 70% of the product is made with organic ingredients. Contains organic ingredients means that the product contains less than 70% organic ingredients. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat must follow strict soil and water conservation methods and guidelines for the humane treatment of animals. Today, over consumers buy more than $15 billion of organic foods and beverages annually.

Okay, so which is better? Just because a product says it's organic or contains organic ingredients doesn't necessarily mean it's a healthier alternative than cg foods. Some organic products may actually be higher in sugar, salt, fat or calories. Before you buy, check food labels to know exactly what you are getting.

Nutrition

There is no scientific evidence or support from the USDA that organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown food.

Quality

The same quality and safety standards apply to organic and conventionally grown foods.

Appearance

Organic foods may be smaller, have odd shapes or varying colors, but in most cases, they look identical to their cg counterparts. Because they aren't treated with waxes, organic fruits and vegetables are not shiny and without preservatives they spoil faster.

Taste

Taste is a matter of personal choice. People are divided as to whether organic and non-organic foods taste the same or are different. Common sense dictates that the freshest foods available will have the best taste. Most fruits and vegetables taste best if they are bought the day they are brought to market. Taste is also affected by the way produce is stored and prepared at home.

Pesticides

Conventional growers use pesticides to protect their crops from molds, insects and diseases. This is one reason that many people prefer organically grown foods, which are not treated with pesticides. Studies have shown that the amount of residue found on fruits and vegetables is minimal and poses no real health risk. Nonetheless, you should wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly with running water. Peel both and trim the outer leaves of leafy vegetables after washing them. Because pesticide residue is found in fat, remove fat from meat and the skin from poultry and fish.

Cost

Organic food can cost 50-100% more than cg food products. This is due to higher labor costs, tighter government regulations and lower crop yields. You should consider the best value for your money before buying either cg or organic foods.

My belief is that food production will change and eventually more and more information will be required on food labels. Maybe within another 5 years checking food labels will reveal about the pesticides used during production as well as the nutritional content. Remember to keep checking the food labels for all the information!

Wayne Mcgregor has trained as a dietitian in the UK. He also has a diploma in fitness training, and a wealth of experience in teaching different people to burn fat and build muscle. His website provides hundreds of free weight loss articles, sample diets, tools and charts of the nutritional content of common foods.

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