Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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What are your thoughts on this article and their methodology? Reasons for/against organic food. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/organic-food-no-healthier-non-organic-study-210536314.html

flag	asked Sep 3 at 22:46 John Sorrentino 2,211●3●10

Marcy · Answer 1 · 2012-09-03 23:06:20Z UTC

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Meh, I am more concerned with what isn't in my produce than what is in it. Same amount of nutrients - pesticides = win.

answered Sep 3 at 23:06

Marcy
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have to agree with this. look at how we only learned of the impact of DDT years later. Pesticides and other chemicals are bad news. So I'll stick organic tyvm. – hackadoodle82 Sep 3 at 23:21

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There are such things as organic pesticides. Some not necessarily better or worse than synthetic pesticides. – Matt Sep 4 at 1:04

Until I have the financial security to start my own garden on the moon, I'll have to take my chances with the lesser of two evils. In the meantime, I am forced to trust the kindly farmers at my market that they aren't dousing my produce in organic napalm. – Marcy Sep 4 at 1:11

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What about DDT? There has never been shown a harmful effect upon human health. In fact scientists would each spoonfuls of the stuff to prove it so. That, and there are known harmful effects from mycotoxins in the food supply and no known organic method to counter them satisfactorily. – Anondson Sep 4 at 1:15

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Yes, really. scienceheroes.com/…. And “Not even one peer-reviewed, independently replicated study linking exposure to DDT with any adverse health outcomes exists.” - Amir Attaran, 2000 British Medical Journal essay. Since this thread was about human health, seemed relevant. – Anondson Sep 4 at 2:13

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Anondson · Answer 2 · 2012-09-03 22:57:33Z UTC

Unsurprising.

That said, it seems to say the vitamin and nutrient content is no different. It seemed to say that organic grown produce was less likely to have pesticides, and organic meat was less likely to have antibiotic resistant bacteria. So, duh. I see this as obvious in all ways.

Didn't seem to even look at the difference between grass fed, pasture raised, free range, etc. vs conventional confined operations. I think this would have been worth including in a comprehensive study.

Jay · Answer 3 · 2012-09-04 01:12:14Z UTC

Nobody claims organic produce have more vitamins. And, why should they? Vitamins are used by plants in cellular metabolism, just how they are used in animals. But, both organic and conventional plants, well, metabolize... So, they should have about the same amount of vitamins.

On the other hand, organic produce are under heavier assault from pests so they would be expected to have more natural pesticides, like polyphenols. Many people think polyphenols are healhy, at least as eaten in fruits and vegetables. But, this study doesn't seem to have tested polyphenol content, which would be the obviousl thing to test since it is what you would expect to be different.

Of course, (conventional) pesticide and fertilizer residue is also a key point of difference and another reason why organic produce is better.

Robert · Answer 4 · 2012-09-16 07:14:16Z UTC

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What we should and should not by organic I like this article, it may not be "healthier" but at least you're not ingesting the pesticides

answered Sep 16 at 7:14

Robert
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aseafish · Answer 5 · 2012-09-04 00:50:02Z UTC

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Many of the important questions were not asked. What's missing, as in toxic substances is a big issue. Other concerns are micro-nutrients they may not even know to look for that are present in natural growing conditions.

answered Sep 4 at 0:50

aseafish
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Nemesis · Answer 6 · 2012-09-04 01:29:12Z UTC

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What we drink and put on our skin, breathe in the air, how much sun damage we get and how much alcohol we drink has a worse affect on our health than occasional pesticide residue. Washing your veggies and fruits with a vinegar or lemon-juice based cleanser is the best way to remove the toxic cooties.

answered Sep 4 at 1:29

Nemesis
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	Unless the "cooties" are in the fruits/veggies, not all pesticides stay only on the skin... you can't wash that off – jjtitus Sep 4 at 12:27
	Again, it's minimal compared to the car exhaust and mosquito larvae killer that my area is routinely sprayed with. – Nemesis Sep 6 at 13:18

Janknitz · Answer 7 · 2012-09-16 03:30:13Z UTC

Very good analysis of this study by "Ask Dr. Dawn"--http://www.askdrdawn.com/askdrdawn.php (Part 2 of Interview with Dr. Mark Houston at about the 32 minute mark.

She points out that the study question was whether organic food was more NUTRITIOUS, not whether it was safer (fewer pesticides and hormones), more sustainable, etc.

Colin · Answer 8 · 2012-09-16 02:57:26Z UTC

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I know this is late but I came across this today.

answered Sep 16 at 2:57

Colin
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Organic Food No Healthier Than Conventional Food?

8 Answers