Little Known Facts About Organics
More than 1/3 of the world’s total food production relies on bees for pollination. Unfortunately, there’s a band of killers on the loose called neonicotinoid insecticides and they have been implicated in the declining honey bee population. People often ask whether organic is better for the soil and the answer is a resounding “YES”. Organic farming has been shown to increase soil health as well as microbial biodiversity. According to a meta-analysis of 342 peer-reviewed studies, organic produce has up to 69% higher levels of phytonutrients than conventionally grown produce. We keep hearing that organic can’t feed the planet, but guess what actually does better in times of drought? That would be organic and it has similar yields to chemically intensive conventional crops in normal conditions. That’s pretty amazing to wrap your head around but it’s true.
Do you know what could happen if you choose at least one organic product out of every 10 times you buy? It could result in 25,800 square miles of degraded soil being turned into rich, highly productive crop lands. The impact 1 in 10 can have on soil is bigger than Lake Michigan! Researchers have also discovered that organic fruits and vegetables are more flavorful. Conventional farmers apply an average of 2-12 synthetic pesticides to their crops. Even one is too many. You could be sipping on extra chemicals in your favorite cup of tea without even thinking about it. Conventional herbs like chamomile are often sprayed with pesticides.
Unborn babies are among the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides. Research indicates it can cause adverse neurologic and cognitive outcomes in children including putting them at higher risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder. Do you need more compelling reasons to go organic? Studies show that pesticide exposure during development is associated with lower IQ’s in children later in life. Overall, synthetic pesticides don’t do little brains any favors. Studies have shown that children exposed to pesticides commonly found in conventional foods were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. As for adults, the same exposure is linked to a 1.5 fold increase of developing Alzheimers. Those are pretty startling facts and compelling evidence to begin to think twice about buying that conventional produce.
9.4 million tons of a cardinogenic pesticide called “glyphosate” have been sprayed on fields around the planet. That’s more than 2300 Olympic sized swimming pools worth of carcinogenic pesticides. Organic farming is not included in those statistics because organic agriculture prohibits glyphosate. Since 1974, 3.5 billion pounds of Glyphosate have been sprayed across America. It’s most common use is in GMO (genetically modified) crops.
Organic farming is good for the whole neighborhood. In areas where it’s on the rise, known as organic “hot spots”, the nearby median household income is rising by over $2,000. How does conventional farming stack up against organic when it comes to biodiversity? It doesn’t. Numerous studies show that organic farming promotes biodiversity and enhances the health of nearby ecosystems, but conventional farming does NOT. A study comparing conventional vs. organic spinach found that organic had 120% higher antioxidant activity. Ketchup made from organic tomatoes has a higher antioxidant content than ketchup made from conventional tomatoes. Most organic produce also has lower levels of the toxic metal cadmium.
We can all use more free radical scavengers to help combat the stress and pollution we face every day. The great news is that organic apples have higher levels of free radical scavengers like quercetin and other flavenoids. According to the Environmental Working Group’s analysis, pesticides showed up on 90% of conventional apples tested, even AFTER they were washed. Those are startling facts. 94% of the US population has measurable levels of pesticide breakdown products in their urine. Switching to a diet of 80% organic foods for one week reduces pesticide breakdown products in urine by an astounding 96%. Make the switch permanent and your liver and body will thank you as well as the fish, sea turtles and dolphins. If you are one of the people sitting on the fence about organic produce, maybe it’s time to think about making the shift….
