Organic Rules the Roost—Again

It’s costing us more to eat these days. Due to the rising cost of oil, what it takes to feed animals that produce things like milk and eggs costs more, what it takes to transport these goods to supermarkets costs more, leaving American consumers with costs of their own—spending an extra $50 per person on groceries this year compared to last, according to an Iowa State University study. Less disposable income might leave health-conscious consumers wondering just how much more beneficial organic foods are compared to non-organic. After all, non-organic does come at a reduced cost, and in times like this, every little bit counts, right?

Look, far be it from me to tell you how to spend your money, but if optimal health is a priority, you might want to consider cutting back on spending in other areas.

According to the United Kingdom’s Sunday Times, organic food is markedly better than non-organic foods when it comes to nutritional value and quality—up to 90 percent better, in fact!

Researchers came to this conclusion at the conclusion of their four-year study, which was funded by the European Union. Twelve million Euros (or $25 million) in funding assisted the researchers in debunking the UK’s Food Standards Agency’s findings which had issued a letter that made no differentiation in the quality or nutritional value of organic foods over traditional foods (they are now reviewing their research to determine the veracity of this new report).

Among the exciting findings, researchers discovered organic fruits and vegetables have 40 percent more antioxidants than their non-organic counterparts and 90 percent more antioxidants in organic milk than in traditional “cow juice.” As you may know, antioxidants are renowned for ridding the body of free radicals, which can often lead to leading health hazards like heart disease, cancer, various neurological diseases as well as macular degeneration.

Professor Carlo Leifert, who helped coordinate the study, said to the Sunday Times that the FSA was wrong to say that eating organically is nothing more than a preferred choice in food selection. In reality, “[t]here is enough evidence now that the level of good things is higher in organics,” according to Leifert.

And if those numbers aren’t convincing enough, other findings suggest that the nutrient density of organic foods versus non-organic foods is enough to satisfy the daily nutritional requirements for those who don’t eat five servings of fruits and vegetables. A true-to-life finding that quality beats quantity!

Establishing priorities is important when costs are high, and there are few things higher on priorities than your long term health, which is determined primarily by your activity level and the things you put into your body. The choice is yours: When it comes to your health and vitality, would you rather pay a high cost on food now, which will cost you less in the future, or spend less on food now, which will cost you more in the future? Do yourself and your family a favor—go organic and never go back!