If you've been eating organic food - this will be of interest!
The claim by those who fork out the extra cash for organic food is that it's free of any "harmful" pesticides...
And there are two main points to consider here: are the pesticides actually "harmful" and is organic food free of them? So let's see what the science says!
A recent annual summary of pesticide data by the U.S Department of Agriculture found that 21% of the tested organic foods contained pesticide residue - 40 varieties of synthetic chemical pesticides (1).
And yes, they were found at similiar levels to those found in organic food. In 30 cases, they were the same or higher, and in 26 cases they were lower.
The point is this: paying more money doesn't mean there will be less pesticides.
But then there's the other important question:
Are Pesticides Harmful To Our Health?
Other research has found that 99.9% of pesticides are actually a natural component of the foods themselves (2).
With that in mind, how bad are they?
As you've learnt on Fit'n'Flexed multiple times, it's the DOSE that makes the poison. We've known this for centuries, but still, marketers are able to play the "pesticides can kill" card to the vulnerable and uneducated, and with great success.
Research by the pesticide data program of the USDA investigated 12,000 foods in 2012, and found that the levels of pesticides were below tolerance levels (3), so there's really no cause for alarm.
They concluded:
“Residues found in agricultural products sampled are at levels that do not pose risk to consumers’ health(i.e., are safe according to EPA).”
Other research, printed in the prestigious Annals of Internal Medicine, found organic food to be no better when it comes to health (4).
Study author Crystal Smith-Spangler said of her research: “Some believe that organic food is always healthier and more nutritious...we were a little surprised that we didn’t find that.”
So Organic Food Doesn't Have Better Nutrient Qualities?
Not according to the data!
Further research into nutritional quality has found no difference either (5). In this large and thorough review, the authors left us with this:
"On the basis of a systematic review of studies of satisfactory quality, there is no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs."
The take home message is this: save your money on organic food until further notice!
"Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!"
Whether you're eating organic or not - let's get you in the shape of your life!
I know you're busy, so I won't keep you for long...
My readers regularly message me as losing weight can be extremely difficult.
Even worse is when stopping an extreme diet brings all the weight back!
I have a solution that'll allow you to continue eating the foods you love (in moderation, of course!) but without an extremity such as paleo, no sugar or no carb.
That's me (Dayne Hudson) above. The photo on the left is me at the end of a bulk, and the photo on the right is after dropping off the weight...in just 12 weeks!
I don't believe in short term diets either! I believe in creating a healthy lifestyle, eating the foods you love, and not needing to worry about your diet around the clock!
As a Sports Nutrition Specialist, scientific researcher and valued member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, I use proven studies to generate results that last for you.
References
(1) https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2014%20PDP%20Annual%2...
(2) http://www.pnas.org/content/87/19/7777.full.pdf
(3) https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2012%20PDP%20Annual%2...
(4) Smith-Spangler C et al. Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives?: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2012 Sep 4;157(5):348-66. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007.
(5) Dangour AD, et. al. Nutritional Quality of Organic Foods: A Systematic Review. AM J Clin Nutr 2009.
Author
Dayne Hudson