Organic foods are grown without artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products are obtained from animals fed natural feed and do not receive hormones or antibiotics. Natural foods are free of synthetic or artificial ingredients or additives. The word organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed.
Organic fresh produce is grown and processed without the use of conventional or synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs, sewage sludge, irradiation, artificial flavors, dyes, or preservatives. Organic agriculture focuses on creating healthy ecosystems and a healthy environment so that crops can thrive without conventional chemicals. Organic fruits and vegetables are more nutritious and healthier than non-organic foods. Organic foods have more vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and micronutrients than commercially grown foods because the soil is nourished by sustainable farming practices.
On average, organically grown foods provide 21% more iron, 27% more vitamin C, 29% more magnesium, and 13% more phosphorus than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. There is not enough evidence to say that organic foods are more or less nutritious than non-organic foods. As consumers increasingly lean toward real, fresh, whole foods and away from highly processed foods with unrecognizable ingredients, fresh produce takes center stage in their attention, and even more so, fresh, organic produce. Health experts and consumers have long debated whether organic foods are more nutritious and safer than conventional foods.
Dietitians know the science of nutrition and will consider your unique needs based on your health, your goals, your culture, and your food traditions. According to Health Canada, there is no evidence to show that it is safer to eat organic food than conventionally grown food due to pesticide residues. Dietitians can help you understand food labels and teach you what to look for when choosing nutritious foods. In general, organic foods taste better than non-organic foods because they are naturally produced and the land used is well-nourished and contains no artificial chemicals.
The difference between organic and non-organic (conventional) foods has to do with the way the food is produced. Traditional foods (fruits, vegetables, cereals, poultry, meat, and eggs) and the health effects of eating these foods On the other hand, organic fruits and vegetables have a higher nutritional quality than non-organic foods, since they are grown naturally. Organic products had a slight advantage in terms of food safety, with 30% less pesticide residues than conventional foods.