The nuance that surrounds organic foods is understandable.
However, there is
little evidence to suggest that organically grown produce is healthier than conventionally grown produce.
There is also
little evidence to support that organically grown produce is better for the environment than conventionally grown produce.
If you're purchasing organic because it aligns with your lifestyle, upholds your values of supporting local and fits into your budget, there’s no harm! However, please continue reading if you're purchasing organic products to enhance your health or because you believe conventionally produced food is somehow inferior.
Is it worth the expensive price tag? Most people attribute the expensive price tag of organic foods to their optimal nutritional status compared to their counterparts. However, this is not true.
Organic and conventionally farmed produce is nutritionally comparable, according to the research. Both have the same amount of vitamins and minerals, essential components of a well-balanced diet.
Organic produce is generally more expensive than conventional produce since it requires more physical labour. Additionally, owing to a small demand, organic food is produced on a smaller scale, resulting in higher marketing and distribution expenses. So despite what you may have thought,
organic is not more expensive because the product is healthier or superior.
Another fancy marketing label Unfortunately, in Australia, the term ‘organic' is not regulated, meaning anybody may call their products
organic without following regulations or criteria. This makes it difficult for us consumers to differentiate between genuinely organic products and products that have capitalised on the halo effect and slapped the word front & centre on their packaging.
Suppose you are interested in buying natural organic products. In that case, the ‘Australian Certified Organic' label is widely recognised to assist us in sifting through the marketing nonsense of what is truly organic and not.
What are the pros and cons? While
conventional and organic food has equivalent levels of vitamins and minerals, organic fruits and vegetables include more antioxidant chemicals, such as polyphenols, which have anti-cancer qualities. However, it is
uncertain if these distinctions have any significance on an individual's cancer risk. Nonetheless, the overall evidence is poor and requires additional investigation.
The bottom line? The
advantages of consuming fruits and vegetables, whether conventional or organic, significantly exceed any concerns. This is frequently overlooked in this debate between organic and convention, which feels like a redundant conversation until further research is more conclusive! The bottom line? We need to eat more plants - conventional or organic aside!