Organic vs Conventional Foods, is it worth it?

When you think of organic vs conventional foods, what comes to mind?

Price? Pesticides? Health?

Let's take a quick, summarized, deep dive at some facts about both.

• The organic market only accounts for 5.5% of total food sales in the U.S.
• Organic produce has 4x LOWER levels of pesticide residues than that of conventional produce.
• Pesticide exposure biomarkers are SIGNIFICANTLY reduced in as little as 5-7 days in both adults and child when switching from conventional produce to organic produce.
• Organic crops antioxidant activity is 17% higher than conventional crops.
• Organic crops polyphenolic compounds have 18-69% greater concentrations than conventional crops.
• Nutritionally - macronutrient, vitamins, minerals both organic and conventional crops are fairly even.
• Organic product has more secondary metabolites (natural compound not directly involved w/ normal growth, development, reproduction of organism BUT these are important and include things like enzyme inhibitors and polyphenols)
• Polyphenols benefit; memory and learning cognitive performance, cerebral blood flow, psychomotor activity, inhibition of neurodegeneration, reduction of hypertension, increased blood perfusion, endothelial homeostasis, beneficial lipid profile, inhibition of platelet activation, inhibition of tumor development, detoxification of cancer, cancer cell apoptosis, inhibition of DNA oxidation, inhibition of cytokine/chemokine, production of mediators, reduced adhesion molecule expression, and inhibition of neuroinflammation.
• Increase polyphenols in organic farming is likely due to the plant having more stress to protect from pest, disease, and overall wounds.
• Organic livestock has less exposure to POPs (persistent organic pollutants) and environmental toxicants, like pesticides.
• Exposure to the toxicants has been minimally researched. The minimal data available suggests that is could be a health concern.
• Organic meats contain 47% more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional meat.
• Minimal differences in other nutrients
• Eggs have no systemic reviews or meta-analyses currently done.

There is more we could get into, and research is forever expanding.

However, we will leave it at that.

So, knowing all of that, do the benefits of organic justify the price tag?

- Kelsey - Head of Fitness

In Progress: Master's of Science in Sports and Health Sciences w/ a focus in Exercise Science and Human Performance. Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Online Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Specialist, Pain Management Specialist, Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED Certified.

Additional Certs: Nutrition Coaching: Changing Habits, Not Diets, The 3D Approach to Finding Nutritional Balance, NASM's OPTimal Living: Understanding Food Labels and Portion Sizes, NASM's OPTimal Living: Navigating Diets, NASM's OPTimal Living: Nutrition Hot Topics and Controversies, Low Back Health Begins with the Core, Kettlebells: Mastering the Swing, Training the Brain: The Neuroscience of Aerobic Exercise, NASM's Guide to Bodybuilding, Emotions in Motion: Exercise as an Anxiety Intervention, Special Olympics Inclusive Fitness Training, ACE IFT Model: Program Design for Every Client

Additional Education: B.A. in Business Management w/ a focus in HR, A.A. in Business Admin, A.A. in Early Childhood Education, A.A. in Natural Science, prior DODD certified respite care provider