Sometimes I wonder what "better" means when it comes to food and dieting and health.
For example, this article. It says that a ten year study by researchers at the University of California have discovered that organic tomatoes have twice the amount of flavonoids (a kind of antioxidant) than regular tomatoes. They found that the organic variety had 79% more quercetin and 97% more kaempferol. It could be due to the lack of fertilzer.
But even Britain's Food Standards Agency says that while some organic foods have more or different nutrients doesn't mean they are necessarily better. Though, hey, tomatoes are great for you in general.
Cheese Course: Brebis Pardou
A transcendent summer tomato salad
Sliced bread turns 80 today
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-06-2007 @ 2:38PM
Hilary said...
Remember, organic isn't the experiment, it is the control. It isn't that organic tomatoes have that much more of these naturally occurring and healthful bioflavonoids in them, it is the fairly RECENT addition of fertilizers that is destroying the nutrition of these foods when it is applied.
It is bizarre to me when people approach organics and natural foods with suspicion when they are what have been around forever, and it is the fertilizers and additives which are the aberration.
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7-07-2007 @ 11:41AM
Crabby McSlacker said...
I agree with Hilary on this.
And why wouldn't you want more antioxidants and helpful nutrients rather than less? They're really good for you! I didn't quite follow the conclusion of the post which seemed to imply not to bother to choose organic, even though the research itself points to some really good reasons why you should!
That said, it looks like the issue of antioxidants in foods is a bit more complicated than "how much is in them," as new studies are showing we don't absorb them all equally well. For more info (if you're really bored):
http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/2007/07/antioxidant-fruits-it-all-gets-more.html
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7-07-2007 @ 3:13PM
Sisterbeer said...
I think people forget that one of the biggest benefits of organic agriculture is the fact that the land is not saturated with pesticides and herbicides. OK, your organic carrot may or may not have higher levels of vitamin A than a conventionally grown carrot...but the ground it was grown in was not hosed down with something that will wash down with the rain into the nearest body of water, or kill the beneficial insects in the same ground. Go organic to save ecosystem. There are more reasons to go organic than the selfish ones.
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7-07-2007 @ 7:35PM
MJ said...
Any food that is cleaner, healthier and pesticide free has to be good for your heart and your whole body!
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