For me,
organic foods provide an assurance of the absence of harmful chemicals
as well as the myriad of unhealthy and unethical growing practices.  I
guess I’ve always subscribed to the “organic soil is healthier and
plants grown in healthier soil will be healthier” philosophy.  It’s just been an intuition for me; however with recent evidence, I’m now confidently able to add ‘nutrition’ to my reasons for going organic. 

For the record, I want to state up front that not every food that passed through my family is organic.  I, like most of you, make decisions and prioritize my organic dollar.  I
know that there are some of you that exclusively purchase organic
foods….which is great if that is how you prioritize your organic budget.  Research shows that over 75% of households are purchasing some organic items.  It seems that most people are of the pragmatic mind to purchase organic when it matters most to them.

So, on to why Nutrition can now be added to my list of reasons for buying organic.  Earlier this month, new research from Washington State University has shown that organic foods may actually be more nutritious.  I
know, to most of us that sounds like a no-brainer, but until recently,
science has had a difficult time in determining the nutritional content
of conventionally vs. organically grown foods.

The study was based on strawberry crops throughout California.  Twenty-six
commercial farms (13 organic, 13 conventional) were evaluated including
three varieties of berries and 14 samples over two years from each
farm.  The results of the study were clear:  the organic strawberries had 10% more Vitamin C and significantly more polyphenols (anti-oxidant power).   Another interesting finding was that the conventional strawberries molded much more quickly than the organic ones.  While
this information is interesting, the scientists conducting the study
were actually more impressed with the resulting healthier quality of the soil.  So, the slower the strawberry spoiled, the less the ‘bad bacteria’ grew in the soil!. 

Ok,
so this study is one small step along the path – and maybe not rocking your world, but for me it is confirmation that healthier soil produces
healthier bounty!  It feels good to know that I am providing a synergistic slam dunk for my family with organic produce- less toxins ingested while providing more nutrients in the same bite.

If you’ve been following my organic posts, we’ve discussed the Dirty Dozen, the Clean Seventeen, genetic modification, humanely-raised
livestock, and the true definition of organic.  Hopefully,
you’re now armed with a well-rounded view of organic foods including the
consideration of chemical toxins, global impact, ethics and now
nutrition

May the wisdom in nature continue to guide you to your healthier world.