There are numerous reasons to prefer organic food over conventional food. Sustainability and environmental reasons are at the forefront. But the decision also plays a role when it comes to your own health. A clear advantage of organically grown fruits and vegetables is the lower exposure to harmful pesticides. But what about the nutrient content? Is organic food not only tastier but also more nutritious? Ultimately, the question of whether an organically produced food is healthier than a conventional product depends on many factors.
The organic hype
Organic products are no longer just found in health food stores. There is now an organic department in almost every supermarket, and in big cities there are more and more shops that only focus on organically grown food. More and more organic seals were also added to identify organic products. It quickly becomes clear that organic has become a big trend. However, the answer to the question of whether organic fruit and vegetables are healthier remains less obvious. To do this, we look at two crucial factors. Pesticides in conventionally produced vs. organic foods
Pesticides are chemical-synthetic substances that have undesirable and toxic effects on animals and plants. They are used in conventional agriculture and not only have an impact on animals and plants, but also on people. The harmful health effects are diverse and range from allergies to disruption of cell division. Organic farming, on the other hand, expressly prohibits any use of pesticides. This means that when producing organic food, the impact is not only lower on animals and the environment, but also on people. When it comes to harmful pesticides, organic products are the clear winner.
nutrient
The second decisive factor when it comes to the question of whether organic products are healthier than those from conventional cultivation is their nutrient content. When we think of fruits and vegetables, we usually automatically assume that they are healthy. After all, fruit and vegetables contain many important nutrients and people cannot live without vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Because the human organism cannot produce these essential nutrients itself, they must be obtained through food. This happens especially through nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. But where are the most healthy nutrients found?
Nutrient content in organic fruits and vegetables
Organic foods are said to have positive effects on health. However, the research situation on this is controversial. Some scientific studies have found little difference in vitamins, minerals and nutrient content. Some other studies found clear advantages of organic products over conventionally produced foods. Ultimately, the nutrient content of organically and conventionally produced products varies greatly. A meta-analysis shows exactly these fluctuations and also points out that factors such as the location of the growing area also play a role. Therefore, the individual case should always be considered.And what about the taste of organic food?
For many people, whether it is worth reaching for the organic box is also a question of taste experience. Maybe you've already noticed how intensely flavorful a ripe organic tomato tastes? Or even a tomato freshly picked from the tomato bush in your garden? The real taste explosion. However, most people also know what an unripe tomato from a supermarket tastes like. So what is the difference? A crucial point is that organic farmers give their plants time. The longer the plant has time to grow, the more nutrients and pigments the fruit develops. The result: Not only a nutrient-rich fruit, but also a tasty and delicious fruit. In conventional cultivation, tomatoes, strawberries and many other fruits and vegetables are often harvested before they are ripe. The taste also suffers as a result.
Conclusion
Organic is booming. But is “organic” healthier or not? For us, the answer to this question is clearly yes, simply because of the lower pesticide contamination. At I·DO we value organic quality and therefore only use organically certified ingredients in our bottles. We usually know the farmers personally and the majority of the ingredients come from the immediate vicinity of the production site. All this and much more to do something good not only for ourselves, but also for nature. Because we are convinced that organic is worthwhile for consumers and for the environment.
