Eat Fruits and Vegetables – Organic or Not

Ever wonder if the health benefits of organic food are really worth the extra cost? That’s what researchers at Stanford University set out to determine in a new study just published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Surprisingly – or maybe not –  researchers did not find “strong evidence that organic foods are more nutritious or carry fewer health risks than conventional alternatives, though consumption of organic foods can reduce the risk of pesticide exposure,” a news release from Stanford University states.

“There isn’t much difference between organic and conventional foods, if you’re an adult and making a decision based solely on your health,” said senior author Dr. Dena Bravata.

But that should not discourage people from choosing organic foods, said researcher Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler. “If you look beyond health effects, there are plenty of other reasons to buy organic instead of conventional,” she said. Some people choose organic fruits and vegetables because they like the way they taste or they have concerns about how conventional farming affects the environment.

Either way, most people need to eat more fruits and vegetables, regardless of whether they’re organic, Smith-Spangler said.

Source: Stanford University press release

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