196_Is Going Organic Better for Your Health

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 196

 Is Going Organic Better for Your Health?

Colorado is one of those places that has plenty of grocery outlets for the purchase of organic food. Despite this easily available opportunity, for years I refused to buy organic produce because of the cost. I always questioned whether or not it was actually beneficial. 

Furthermore, I questioned whether or not there were added nutritional benefits of going organic. And of course I kept right on doing what I was doing and never bothered to actually look into it. I just never took the time to educate myself on this subject.

Finally I got around to doing my homework. And what really encouraged me was one particular article I read that was published by the Environmental Working Group. 

So join me for E196 which is called Is Going Organic  Better for Your Health? 

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E196 Is Going Organic Better for Your Health? 

Now I must say that there is a lot of controversy over whether or not eating all organic food is better for your health. Are there actually increased nutritional benefits? Are there potentially other benefits that we do not know about? Or are we just kidding ourselves? These are the questions I want to examine. Additionally I want to share the reasons I finally started purchasing organic produce. 

But first, here comes the sustainability question of the week. 

What are some beneficial and detrimental affects of tourism and travel? 

Good news story of the week

This weeks good news story comes out of Paris and has to do with paper production. Current estimates are that somewhere between 6 and 9.8 billion trees are cut down every year just to produce paper products. But there is a start up company that has found a solution to that. They are using dead leaves to produce paper. 

It is estimated that the average city produces 8,000 metric tons leaves every year that clog gutters and sewers and have to be collected to be burned, composted or dumped into landfills. The the start up company, called ReLeaf Paper with headquarters in Paris, is now using 5,000 metric tons of leaves to produce 3 million paper carrier bags per year.

ReLeaf has joined forces with landscapers across Europe to have thousands of tons of leaves delivered to their facility.  They use a low-water, zero sulfur, zero chlorine production process  to create paper with a much smaller water and carbon footprint. 

The company uses leaves to produce paper then returns a by-product called lignin, to be used as a fertilizer compound. Lignin is a complex organic polymer in plants that is used for structural support. The fertilizer is used on trees and gardens. ReLeaf uses an organic material that would have otherwise gone to waste. They save millions of trees in the process and they return fertilizer to support the growth of other plants. So the situation ends up being a win-win.

This weeks round of applauses goes to ReLeaf for their enterprising efforts to save trees. It is a perfect example of a true circular economy. 

So, let’s move on to this weeks episode. 

If you listened to my last episode you know that I closed with making some remarks about several people I had met that were diagnosed with chronic diseases. All of these individuals were on multiple medications and given a relatively poor prognosis for long-term survival. Each of these people moved into a rural area where there was considerably less stress, gave up all processed foods and went completely organic.  Within one to two years everyone of them was off all medications and leading a healthy life. 

So, is that the result of going all organic or are there multiple other factors to consider? 

Surely you have heard me mention how I grew up with two working farms in the family. The reason I make a point of this is that all the things I was exposed to growing up truly shaped much of what I do and how I now live. The reasons I share these experiences is because it had such a tremendous positive impact on my life. It also taught me a lot about how to provide for myself. But there are precious few people I know these days that had similar experiences. 

There were three ways in which we provided ourselves with food. My grandparents raised various farm animals for meat. We maintained a large garden. We went hunting and foraging for wild game, fish, nuts, berries and even some fruit. And if that was not enough, we would go to the local farmers market and buy bushels of fresh produce which we would can and preserve to use over the winter. 

The point being is that we were actively, and almost constantly involved with where our food came from and what we ate. Everything we raised for meat and all the vegetables we grew were produced in a natural way.  I have no memory of my grandfather being out in the field with a huge machine spraying pesticides or feeding the cows antibiotics or hormones. In many respects, this was a great example of organic farm production long before this term “organic” became popular. 

At some point in time most of us have likely heard the phrase “You are what you eat.” There is actually a phenomenal amount of health related studies that proves that very statement. Considering the following: 

In much of the developed world people eat a diet that is high in calories, fat, added sugars, and low in essential nutrients. Nearly 20% of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes is attributed to poor diet. The incidence of multiple chronic diseases among adults is now 27.2 percent with 51.8% now having at least one chronic disease. 

Changing your diet to something more healthy should be a no-brainer. But, there is another more subtle component to what we consume, that being all the chemicals that are in our food in the form of pesticides. 

While most people have the impression that pesticides are a function of modern food production, their use actually dates back as far as 2500 BCE in Samaria. It wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that we saw the development of synthetic organic pesticides including DDT. 

You would think that pesticide use could be easily avoided. Agricultural activities could be planned around the cycles of nature instead of using organic or synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This type of food production promotes the formation of local species that are resistant to plagues and disease. Farm animals could live in a semi-free environment with no antibiotics or hormones. 

But due to the pressures of feeding a growing population we soon resorted to industrial agricultural practices. Consequently we are dependent on the use of chemicals and pesticides in order to maintain our rate of food production to feed a growing population. As a result of this consumers are constantly exposed to chemicals and pesticides in our food. 

Truly there is a lot of debate over the potential health affects of pesticide residues in our food. 

You have to ask yourself if this is healthy. But when you do ask all you hear is “Studies are on-going.” or “The long-term health affects have not yet been established.” 

But I want to quote some statistics from the Environmental Working Group on pesticides in produce. This is from their publication on The 2024 Dirty Dozen where they tested 46 items of produce and listed the 12 items that were contaminated with the most pesticides. 

These are statistics directly from their webpage, credit goes to the Environmental Working Group and their report The Dirty Dozen. 

-209 pesticides were found in total

-More than 50 different types of pesticides were found on every crop on their list except for cherries

-More than 90% of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and grapes tested positive for residues for two or more pesticides. 

Additionally if you listened to my last episode about living healthy in the chemical world, then you know the pesticides in our food are only a small part of all the chemicals we are exposed to. But since we are on the subject of food, the big questions if whether or not we should go organic? Besides, eating organic is growing in popularity because many people believe it is better for your health. 

What does it mean for something to be “organic”?  

The US Department of Agriculture defines organic as crops that are produced on farms that have not used synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers for at least three years prior to harvesting the food. Additionally there must be a significant buffer zone between other farms to decrease contamination. These farms must also be free from genetically engineered crops, any sort of ionizing radiation and the use of sewage sludge for fertilizer. 

Animals must be fed organic feed and live on pasture that is considered organic. They must also be raised without routinely administering antibiotics or hormones. 

What most people do not realize is that free range does not mean organic. It just means that animals were raised without confinement to small cages. If you see “natural” on the food label it means there are no artificial flavors or color added. It does not mean it is organic or free of pesticides. 

Why is organic food more expensive?

The other question that people often ask is why is organic food more expensive. Well, there are actually a number of reasons for that. 

-Labor costs are higher because of the need for manual weeding and pest control. 

-Tighter regulations means that organic farmers have to adhere to strict guidelines. 

-Higher production cost because organic farmer often produces less food per unit of land

-Certification and inspections are a rigorous process and adds to costs. 

-Compost and animal manure as a natural fertilizer cost more to produce and transport. 

If you wanted to switch to organic food, where would be a good place to start? 

And I think most people who are concerned about going organic may not know where to start. Personally, I think the best place to start is to visit the web page for the Environmental Working Group and look at their dirty dozen. Any produce that is on that list should be purchased as organic. It is a good way to start reducing your exposure to pesticides. 

Once I found this page, I immediately started buying organic produce. This web page has some rather alarming statistics about the amount of pesticides that are in the foods we consume almost daily. Yet most of us have no clue of what we are being exposed to. 

Even though there are on-going studies about pesticide residues in the food we consume, nothing has yet been proven about the long-term affects. But just imagine how people would react if every produce item in the supermarket were labeled according to pesticide residues. Would you purchase strawberries in the supermarket if they had a label that said, “This product was independently tested by a third party laboratory and found to contain 57 different pesticide residues.”

Does organic food have added nutritional benefits? 

The next obvious question is whether or not there are nutritional advantages to consuming organic food. In other words, is eating organic better for your health? 

If you walk through any supermarket these days you will likely find a lot more space devoted to organic foods. From produce to canned goods to basic staple foods, more and more labels bear the seal of being organic. 

In 2024 the global organic food and beverage market was valued at almost $259 billion USDs. By 2030 the revenue forecast is expected to be a bit more than $564 billion USDs. And just for the sake of comparison, in 2014 sales of organic products were estimated to be slightly less than $36 billion USDs. Obviously the market is growing. 

According to dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “I think people believe these foods are better for them, but we really don’t know that they are.” 

After reviewing several articles written by dietary experts, physicians, and university researchers, here is the bottom line on the nutritional value of organic foods. 

Kathy McManus, quoted just above, says, 

"There've been a number of studies examining the macro- and micronutrient content, but whether organically or conventionally grown, the foods are really similar for vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates.” Organic foods don’t appear to have a nutritional advantage over their conventional counterparts. 

According to Dean Blumberg and Lena Rothstein, two pediatricians and UC Davis Children’s Hospital, “Organic foods are not healthier, per se, in terms of nutrients. You are still getting the same benefits in conventionally grown foods as your are in organic foods. 

According to one study conducted by Stanford University "there is no evidence about a higher dietary value or of the fact that they are healthier than conventional products. But it has been demonstrated that their consumption reduces the exposure to pesticide waste and antibiotic-resistant bacteria". 

Another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition came to the conclusion that organic products contain up to 60% more antioxidants, 87% less nitrites and 50% less cadmium.

So the bottom line is that there is no conclusive evidence that organic foods have a higher nutritional profile compared to conventional foods. Several studies have shown that organic and conventional produce have similar nutrient profiles, and the differences between the two are often small and inconsistent.

The challenge for us as consumers is that organic foods are often marketed as healthier, and many  people perceive them as such due to the “organic” label. But, as is usually the case, this perception is often driven more by marketing and consumer psychology as opposed to research based scientific evidence. 

So what is the real benefit of going organic? 

The bottom line is that there is no significant nutritional benefit to eating organic foods. So, what is the real benefit? Are there other advantages to going all organic. Well, consider the following points based on real science: 

-Nutrient profiles have demonstrated that organic foods have increased antioxidants. These are components that help to reduce the risk of various types of cancers. 

-Organic foods contain measurably lower levels of pesticides. Again, check out the resource produced by the Environmental Working Group on the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen. 

-Increase exposure to pesticides have been linked to increased risk of ADHD, autism, reduced cognitive skills, Parkinson’s disease, fertility issue, cognitive decline later in life, and cancer. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified three common pesticides as carcinogenic. The primary exposure in humans was diet. 

-Organic farming does have a positive environmental impact. Typically these practices use less water, less energy, and reduced greenhouse gas emission. Organic farming also uses significantly fewer pesticides and use organic fertilizer. 

On the other hand, industrialized farming promotes climate change, produces significant contamination to the surrounding watershed, results in soil erosion, nutrient depletion, biodiversity loss and deforestation. 

Additionally, modern pesticides, such as organophosphates, are particularly toxic to bees. It is estimated that as much as 50% of pesticides used today contain organophosphates. 

Several long-term studies have shown bee populations have declined as much as 80%. If bee populations continue to decline, it will have a significant impact on global food production. Seventy out of the top 100 food crops that feed the world rely on pollinators. 

Things to consider

So what I want to do at this point is to summarize and emphasize some things to consider if you are on the fence about whether or not to go organic. 

-Eating organic does not mean better nutrition. There is no magic bullet, no mysterious elixir to make you healthier. Having a healthy lifestyle encompasses many factors. Fruits and vegetables have many positive health benefits and are highly nutritious when they are part of a balanced diet, regardless of whether they are organic or conventionally grown. 

-Organic food has been shown have increased antioxidants, which is a good thing.

-Pesticides are commonly used in modern food production to improve crop yields by controlling weeds, insects, fungus as well as other things. Visit the webpage on the Environmental Working Group and read their reports on the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen. This is a great way to educate yourself about potential exposure levels. 

-Eating organic foods is a good way to reduce your exposure to pesticides. Pesticide exposure has been shown to have detrimental effects on your health. 

-Organic farming has proven beneficial affects on the environment. It is obvious that human activity is the primary driver behind climate change, environmental degradation, habit and biodiversity loss. Reducing, eliminating, and reversing these factors is crucial to whether or not we continue to live on this planet. So, why not patronize the people who do things to accomplish that very thing. 

-Educate yourself on product labels. Know what it means when something is labeled “100% organic”, “Organic” versus “made with organic___.”

-Organic foods do cost more for a variety of reasons.  If you are worried about the additional cost then determine the percentage of your grocery bill that is made up of fruits and vegetables. Chances are it is small. Then go all organic for those products that are know to have a high level of pesticides. Go non-organic for those products where it does not matter. 

-Since organic produce contains very little if any preservatives, it will spoil faster. It is better to buy in smaller quantities in order to avoid food waste. 

-Buy meat directly from the rancher. This is what we do. Is is organic and pastured raised. We buy a large quantity and it ends up costing us $3.50 per pound. Any prime cut of supermarket these days is closed to $16/pound. 

Conclusion: 

There are pros and cons to anything you do. There is not magic formula for having a healthy and sustainable life. It is a combination of multiple factors. Going organic, which does have obvious benefits, is just one part of the puzzle. Despite the additional costs, if you want to eat organic, as mentioned above, there are ways to mitigate the extra expense. Eating organic is beneficial for the environment. Consequently, several months ago I started purchasing only organic produce. 

Now to start wrapping things up, let’s address the sustainability question of the week. What are some beneficial and detrimental affects of travel and tourism? 

What are the benefits of tourism and travel?

Tourism has many benefits if people are mindful about what they do. One of the obvious direct impacts is that it supports the local economy and sometimes the entire country. That economic impact often extends into the social community of the locals  by increasing their quality of life. Tourism also increases global  and cultural awareness. And quite often, it is tourism dollars that support local conservation efforts. 

What are the detrimental affects of tourism? 

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, since 1950 there has been a 56 fold increase in international travel. As of 2018, there were 1.4 billion international arrivals and that is expected to increase to 1.8 billion by 2030. 

All of this travel produces enormous benefits but this often comes at the expense of the environment and the local communities which are impacted by crowded streets, pollution, habitat loss, and even changes to their culture.

So, just a couple of final remarks. When deciding whether or not to go organic, or to lives sustainable as possible, as a consumer you have to consider multiple factors such as cost, the environmental impact and even your personal values. This is what will guide you to make the best possible decision. 

Well folks that about wraps it up. I hope you have found this episode informative.  Don’g forget to visit the podcast home page found at adventuresinsustainableliving.com

Until next week this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.