Good Lifestyle

Some people think "bio" and assume "healthier". Others have heard that the benefits of organic eating are overestimated and roll their eyes at the highest prices. So, eating biological products really, really good for you? Is organic food healthier?

I get it - there are so many decisions that we need to do at the grocery store and so many complex brands to read, and so many things that deform our bank accounts. So, to get it a little easier for you, I share information on whether biological foods are really better for your health and tips on whether and when you should throw them in your cart.

What is organic really means?

First of all, let us all assure us on the same page of what organic means. USDA certified organic foods come from farms and treatment facilities that must meet the strict criteria and are verified for compliance.

Among these criteria, most people are more familiar with "Nos". No synthetic pesticides (such as chemical herbicides and insecticides) or chemical fertilizers. No antibiotics or growth hormones. No genetically modified organism (GMO).

But there are also standards biological farmers are related to positive practices: strengthening soil health, for example and certain requirements related to animal welfare. The general objective of organic farming is to work jointly with natural ecosystems to producedense nutritional food While preserving natural resources, rather than extracting from the earth what we need in a way that uses these resources.

Are organic food healthier than conventional foods?

It's a difficult question to respond definitely because there are so many variables.

In terms of exposure to pesticides, we know that the vast majority of conventional fruits and vegetables are contaminated with pesticide residues. We also know that many of these pesticides, such as glyphosate (round round), atrazine and chlorpyrifos arerelated to serious health problems as an increased risk of cancer and neurological disorders. The problem is that individuals are exposed to so many different chemicals at very low doses every day, and it is difficult to measure the exact effect of low-dose exposure of pesticides over time.

What about whether organic foods are more nutritious? Aliterature review Posted in 2012 has been widely stated that it has found that, while organic foods can reduce exposure to pesticides and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the scientific literature has so far not shown that they contained levels of Nutrient higher (except in the case of phosphorus). However, aMeta-analysis 2014 Organic foods found have had significantly higher levels of antioxidants such as polyphenols. Moreover, aMeta-Analysis 2016 The organic milk found has a much healthier fatty acid composition than classical milk.

Even more convincing? While all the studies mentioned have examined the composition of the food,A French study With nearly 70,000 participants have found that eating organic foods more often was associated with a reduced risk of cancer.

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My advice by eating organic.

As evidence is not completely conclusive about how organic food consumption could increase your health, I say research on the avoidance of pesticide residues and onMore antioxidants And healthy greases are strong enough to choose organic products.

If you can not always make this choice due to budget constraints, try using theDirty Dozen List understand where to compromise the products. As for the meat, try to commit yourself to organize even more, for nothing good will come out of hormones and antibiotics in your food. Another note: If you are pregnant and / or if you feed children, biology is even more important because many pesticides have been demonstrated on the development of brains of babies and endocrine systems.

Finally, if you are all about conscious life like me, many other reasons to buy organic food. Although low-dose exhibitions to pesticides may not hurt you, agricultural workers are exposed to dangerous doses. Organic farming also prevents waterway pollution (from chemical pesticides and fertilizers), protects pollinators (such as bees!) And builds healthy soil, key to sequester carbon to mitigate climate change.