5 Vital Facts About Organic Food

The next time you’re wondering if you should fill more of your grocery cart with organic food, here are some important things to keep in mind.

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1 Organic Food Enhances

Your Health The largest studies of the health effects of eating an organic diet have been carried out in France. In one group of more than 54,000 men and women, those eating organic foods were less likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. This link was more pronounced among men, who ate more meat and other animal-based foods than women. Among other studies, one looked at nearly 69,000 French adults and found that eating mostly organic foods reduced cancer risk by 25 percent.

Hundreds of studies have looked at the nutritional profiles of various foods. Overall, they’ve found that organic fruits and vegetables have higher levels of protective antioxidants. And organic meat, milk, and eggs contain more beneficial fats, especially anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats.

2 Chemicals in Conventional Food Contribute to Chronic Disease

A report by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, which includes data from the FDA, estimates that more than 2,000 chemicals are allowed as additives in conventional food. Known health risks of such chemicals include hormone disruption, cancer, inflammation, brain damage, kidney stones, gout, disruption of gut bacteria, and other digestive problems. In addition, some of these chemicals are known polluters of our air and water.