Is Organic Food Worse For You?

Many people purchase organic food in the hopes of feeling better about themselves and maybe the environment, but our organic food is really better for you and the environment in the first place.

The term "organic" refers to plants that have not been grown using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, but this is a little misleading because many consumers purchase organic products thinking they will avoid using pesticides altogether. In reality, however, organic farmers can still use fungicides and pesticides to keep insects from eating their crops; they can't be made synthetically.

More than 20 chemicals derived from natural sources, such as plants, are permitted for use in the United States' organic market. However, research has revealed that some naturally occurring pesticides pose a greater risk to human health and the environment than synthetic ones. This is not to say that natural is always better for you or the environment; additionally, not all organic foods are truly organic.

For the record, if a label simply states "organic," it only needs to contain 95 percent organic ingredients. Similarly, a label made with organic ingredients on bread might only contain 70 percent, or a label saying "well containing organic ingredients" might only have 50 percent. If a label says "100% organic," it must contain only organic ingredients. Interestingly, the term "free-range" also only requires proof that the animal has access to the outdoors for at least five minutes each day.

Organic vegetable yields are typically 33% lower than conventional ones, putting more strain on the environment as more farmland is required; however, organic legume yields are only 5% lower because they are more efficient at absorbing nitrogen from organic fertilizers. These findings from a 2012 meta-analysis show that organic crop yields are, on average, 25% lower than conventional ones. However, differences between types of crops can be significant. Naturally, employing crop rotations and varied planting instead of monocultures is better for the land and the ecosystem, but are many organic farming techniques healthier for you?

Researchers found after analyzing 237 studies that organic fruit and vegetables are no more nutrient-dense than those grown conventionally, but it is challenging to conduct long-term studies of diets that are exclusively organic because most people combine organic and non-organic foods. Short-term organic diets do, however, show higher levels of carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamin C and E, LDL cholesterol, antioxidant activity, immune system markers, and even higher-seeming quality, though these differences are not statistically significant.

When children follow an organic diet for ten days, their urine samples show lower levels of organophosphates, which are linked to neurological issues at higher concentrations. However, it should be noted that these levels are orders of magnitude lower than what is necessary to cause clinical harm. After all, an organic bag of chips is still just a bag of deep-fried carbohydrates with very little nutritional value.

The most unexpected finding is that, although making up only 1% of agricultural acreage or space, organic foods account for 7% of recalled field units in 2015. For instance, this year, multiple flavors of Clif bars were recalled from stores due to organic sunflower kernels that may have been contaminated with Listeria, a bacteria that kills hundreds of people in the United States each year.

The truth is that eating organic food can be healthier for you and the environment in some ways, but it's not the end all be all. Production practices for both organic and conventional foods vary greatly from farm to farm, from small local farms to large factory farms, and it's likely a combination of methods that will produce the best results for your health and the environment. Organic and conventional foods can coexist and don't have to be at odds with one another.

When it comes to your own health, which is essentially a combination of your genetics, nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle choices, anyone who tells you with absolute certainty that one method is better than the other is disregarding the facts. More research is needed in this area.