Organic News
Organic food is better
A comprehensive review of ninety-seven published studies comparing the nutritional quality of organic and conventional foods shows that organic plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, grains) contain higher levels of eight of eleven nutrients studied, including significantly greater concentrations of health-promoting polyphenols and antioxidants.
The study is published by the Organic Center, Boulder, Colarado in the US and the review team was made up of scientists from a variety of US universities who designed a screening method to verify that only acceptable research evidence was considered.
In this first comprehensive review of the scientific literature comparing nutrient levels in organic and conventional food completed since 2003, a team of scientists conclude that organically grown plant-based foods are 25% more nutrient dense, on average, and deliver more essential nutrients per serving or calorie consumed.
Commenting on the results, Dr. Neal Davies, a professor in the School of Pharmacology at Washington State University, and a study co-author, said "We have carried out many careful comparisons of both nutrient levels and biological activity of antioxidant polyphenols in organic and conventional foods over the last five years. Not only are we seeing a general trend in favor of the nutrient density of organic food, but also evidence that nutrients are often present in organic foods in a more biologically active form."
