The Sunday Times reported that a four-year, £12 million organic research project would end years of controversy over organics and could overturn claims by relevant government personnel that eating organic food is merely a lifestyle choice. The study found that the content of antioxidants in organic vegetables and fruits was 40% higher than in conventional products, and scientists say that antioxidants can reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Organic vegetables and fruits also contain higher levels of beneficial minerals such as iron and zinc.
Professor Carlo Leifert, a collaborator on the EU-funded project, said that organic products would help improve people's nutritional absorption. Researchers planted fruits and vegetables on a 725-acre farm in Northumberland, England, and raised dairy cows separately on their organic and non-organic plots. They also had dairy cow bases in other parts of Europe. They found that the antioxidant content in milk from organic cows was 50%-80% higher than in conventional milk. Organic wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbages, onions, and lettuce contained 20%-40% more nutrients compared to their non-organic counterparts.
Ten reasons to choose organic food:
1. Provides the richest nutrition for the body
In April 2001, the Worthington Study reviewed the results of 41 surveys comparing crops grown using organic and inorganic fertilizers. In all crops grown with organic fertilizers, many nutrients were higher than those grown with inorganic fertilizers - vitamin C was 27% higher, manganese was 29% higher, and iron was 21% higher.
2. Provides the highest active ingredients for the body
Organic fruits and vegetables contain more vitamin C, protein, flavonoids, etc., compared to regular vegetables. Zero-pollution organic foods can increase the absorption and utilization rate of nutrients by 35%, making bodily functions operate more harmoniously and keeping the body healthier.
3. Provides the lowest toxins for the body
The nitrate and heavy metal content in organic foods is 30% less than in regular foods. Providing zero-pollution organic foods for the body gives the body's organs "chemical rest time," allowing them to break down toxins while functioning, reducing the likelihood of toxins causing diseases or harm to the body.
4. Particularly beneficial to children's health
Children are exposed to large amounts of pesticides through food, as they consume more food and water per unit of body weight than adults. Excessive pesticide residues in children can affect nervous system function and even cause cancer. Pesticide-free organic foods help reduce the incidence of these conditions.
5. Better taste
Organic agriculture promotes maintaining the natural components of products, so it can preserve the original flavor of food.
6. Prevents outbreaks of diseases like avian influenza
Intensive animal farming makes it easy for diseases to spread, whereas organic agriculture requires open animal farming methods, giving animals space to move around, enhancing their resistance, and reducing the chances of disease spreading.
7. No genetically modified components in production process
Under the concept of organic production, no genetically modified organisms or their derivatives can be used in any production or processing.
8. Beneficial to the environment and ecology
Organic production encourages the use of natural materials, moderate fertilization and irrigation, reducing resource waste and increasing biodiversity within and around farms. Organic production follows the principle of nature's recycling, which is very important for establishing and maintaining correct natural food chains.
9. Protects soil
Soil degradation and pollution are becoming increasingly serious, and as soil is a basic element for producing food, humans must protect it. Once soil is damaged, it takes at least three to five years to recover. The soil protection measures required by organic agriculture aim to restore and maintain the vitality of the soil, enabling it to continue providing sufficient and high-quality food for humans.
10. Actually not expensive at all
Organic production has a smaller scale, higher labor investment, and relatively higher risk costs and transportation costs, so the price of organic products is naturally more expensive. However, conventional agriculture does not include environmental costs such as pollution and reduced soil fertility in its pricing. If environmental costs were reflected in prices, there wouldn't be much difference between the prices of conventional agricultural products and organic agricultural products. More importantly, if you eat organic food long-term, you can clearly feel an increase in immunity and improvement in physical condition, which is a normal phenomenon as toxins are gradually expelled from the body.