After years of doubt over the benefits of organic vegetables, fruits and cereals over those produced by conventional farming and gardening a new scientific paper has indicated that there are higher antioxidant concentrations and less cadmium and pesticide residues in organically-grown crops.
This should come as no surprise to those of us who garden organically as we have always had our doubts about pesticide residues. We have also always believed that a healthy solid, filled with naturally occurring nutrients would naturally produce crops with a higher nutritional content. The real surprise for us in these findings, which follow an analysis of some 343 studies, is that antioxidant concentrations are up to 69% higher in organic crops.
As the antioxidant chemicals are one ones that protect us from diseases including cancer this is a very significant finding.
The key findings were:
- Organic crops are up to 69% higher in key antioxidants (linked to lower risk of many diseases and cancers) than conventionally-grown crops
- Organic food contains significantly lower levels of toxic heavy metals than conventionally grown crops
- A switch to eating organic fruit, vegetables and cereals (and food made from them) can provide additional antioxidants equivalent to eating 1-2 extra portions of fruit and veg a day
I have been involved in the organics movement and have been involved in growing and eating organic fruit and vegetables since 1976, and have always felt that it both looks and tastes different to conventionally grown crops.
It just seems obvious to myself and so many in the organics movement that crops produced in nutrient rich soils, that grow slowly without being “pushed” by high nitrogen fertilisers would develop more flavour, a better texture and higher level of nutrition than conventional crops.
The fact that they are so significantly better for you, with regard to the higher level of antioxidants is the icing on the cake…
If you would like to know more, then check out Newcastle Universities website