Is Organic Food Better?

September 14th, 2012

A common question I get from patients is whether organic food is better for them.  My first response is that there currently are no clear-cut definitions of what the term “organic” means.  Having grown many fruits and vegetables of my own, I know that it is virtually impossible to grow anything without some type of fertilizer or means of pest control.  Most organic foods are said to be grown without antibiotics, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.  Though organic foods cost more, they have been gaining in popularity.  People choose to eat organic foods for many reasons including reducing the amount of chemicals entering their bodies, protecting the environment, and the idea that the foods contain more nutrients than their chemical-coated counterparts.

A recent review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, titled “Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier than Conventional Alternatives?”, found no significant difference nutrition-wise between conventional and organic foods.  Though there were some major flaws in many of the studies cited, including heterogeneity of the study methods, there were some interesting findings.  The foods in the studies, which included fruits, vegetables, poultry and eggs, had the same amount of vitamins and minerals.  However, there was a greater pesticide residue (30% higher) and bacteria resistant to antibiotics found on the conventionally grown foods. 

My general rule of thumb is to buy organic when the fruit or vegetable has a thin skin such as tomatoes or plums.  If you cannot buy organic, be sure to peel the fruit or vegetable before eating or cooking.  One study cited found that children who were switched to an organic diet for 5 days had lower amounts of detectable pesticides in their urine.  With all fresh produce, it is always important to thoroughly wash them.  Interestingly, the study found E.coli bacterial contamination was the same between the two types of produce.  The bottom line is this:  If you can afford to buy organic, there really is no downside to taking the extra precautions, especially if you are pregnant or have children in the household.