No evidence organic foods benefit health: study

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 5/24/10 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Consumers who opt for organic foods often believe they are improving their health, but there is currently no strong evidence that organics bring nutrition-related health benefits, a new research review finds.

A "disappointingly small" number of well-designed studies have looked at whether organic foods may have health benefits beyond their conventional counterparts', according to the review, by researchers with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Health in the UK.

Moreover, they found, what studies have been done have largely focused on short-term effects of organic eating -- mainly antioxidant activity in the body -- rather than longer-term health outcomes. And most of the antioxidant studies failed to find differences between organic and conventional diets.

The review, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adds to findings reported last year by the same research team.

In that study, the researchers combed through 162 articles published in the scientific literature over the last 50 years, and found no evidence that organic and conventional foods differ significantly in their nutrient content.

For the current review, the researchers were able to find only 12 published studies that met their criteria for evaluating the health effects of organic foods.

[Drawsing]

The entire organic industry is based on feelings. "Chemicals-Bad!, Natural-Good!" What people fail to realize is that the world is made out of chemicals. Plants "synthesize" their own toxins. So, in a sense, everything contains synthetic chemicals, many of which can be harmful in mega-doses.

Refer to the previous post no. 23 on the findings of Mr. Aimes for a little common sense.

[aruanan]

I do, however, love the hardcore conviction coming from "conservatives" attempting to tell me how wrong I am on my choice, some in quite vile way, same people who are quite upset with a gvt attempting to do the same thing.

If someone who is an expert in nutrition sees folks making a choice that is isn't consistent with nutritional reality and who may be doing so simply out of ignorance, to ignore it and say, "well, after all, it's their choice" is irresponsible. Once a message has been delivered, then the responsibility is on the shoulders of the one deciding to heed or ignore the information. But the act of "making a choice" doesn't have an effect on objective reality. Making a bad choice or an ill-informed choice won't make everything turn out okay because it is my choice.

For example, people go on and on about bovine growth hormones being responsible for an earlier onset of puberty in children who drink milk from cows who have received these hormones to sustain and/or increase milk production and will pay extra money for milk that is alleged to be free from such hormones believing they are doing something good for their children. In reality, all they are doing is spending extra money that could be used for their children in other ways because non-primate growth hormones cannot dock with primate growth hormone receptors. There is no way in the world that they can do so. On the other hand, primate growth hormones can dock with non-primate growth hormone receptors. So, whereas a shot of human growth hormone will have an effect on calves, ingesting (or even injecting) bovine growth hormone will have no hormone effect on humans. I've seen some people get upset and claim that telling them that is equivalent to telling them that they don't care about their kids. That isn't the case, but in this instance what they call caring is misplaced and wastes money that could be used for something real instead of satisfying an emotional need to feel that one is doing a good job as a parent.

[Nepeta]

I am not sure about the studies of feeling "righteous and pure", but as an aging former hippie, I suspect that the effects are more about the moral vanity that has afflicted my generation.

Exactly so. As someone who was a conservative in 1968, I am weary of the 60s and their aftereffects. I want the silliness to stop.

[lonevoice]

The article isn’t that informative, but there are some interesting and seemingly informed comments here, at least on the first page. By the time you read beyond, to the second page, the whole thing devolves into some kind of pissing contest. I thought you might find the first page of comments mostly interesting, at least.

[Deb]

You're so cute and funny. Nice try using actual facts.

I find that one has a greater chance of finding one's truly satisfying conversational partner, when one uses a more formal approach to insufferably, pretentious prigs, like say..."Molly" N'est pas?

[packrat35]

I never said I was against people doing what that want concerning organic farming. If you read my other posts on this thread, you will see I say that several times.

I just don’t want it forced on me and I think it’s a waste of money for most people but they are free to spend it on whatever they want.

[MollyKuehl]

Before you going off on a diatribe, read my comments. I never compared the nutritional value of organic vs conventional since there's no proof of one being superior to the other. As the study confirms it.

But I truly had enough of the hypocrisy of some conservatives, expecting the gvt to stop telling us what to do yet them being the first one telling fellow conservatives what to do, based on their opinions.

[packrat35]

No one is stopping you from purchasing what you want. But this is a discussion site and many feel it is foolish to waste money on same. Others feel it is worth the extra cost.

Both sides have a right to their opinions.

[MollyKuehl]

Oh, Deb, honey, I see that the incessant yapping and attempts of nibbling at my ankles continue from the dark. Come on, why don’t you live up to your classy, logical, informative and common sense conclusion of calling me again a... liberal gay man?? Keep it original, will ya?

[MollyKuehl]

I never denied that nor have I been derogatory towards the ones opting for conventional. It is their choice to do so and I am neither obtuse nor arrogant to think I know better, that I am better or that others should do as I do. It comes down to the same as one's personal choice: paper or plastic? Organic or conventional? Standard or manual transmission?

[mlizzy]

I agree with you on both counts!

[freekitty]

I have two close friends that are and were vegetarians. One is dead and the other is sick all of the time.

Case closed.

[altura]

Well, just buying brown eggs is pointless but I do buy the eggs from free range chickens. It’s my only bow to protesting the treatment of chickens on places like Tyson’s. But I still eat chicken so I guess I am only willing to do what’s convenient (and only costs a dollar more a dozen).

I totally shun organic because it’s kind of a faddy, foody kind of thing and I can’t see the virtue in fertilizing with sheet instead of chemicals. (chemical is not a dirty word but sheet is.

[altura]

Food fight, food fight.

Great fun, don’t take it so seriously.

[MollyKuehl]

I have two close friends that are and were vegetarians. One is dead and the other is sick all of the time.
Case closed.

Conversation here is not about vegan/vegetarian diets. Get with the program! And keep your day job, you'd be horrible as a lawyer.

[MollyKuehl]

I don’t intend to do so, I just despise hypocrisy. Plenty to go around... Makes it harder to accept it coming from your own!!!

[aruanan]

Before you going off on a diatribe, read my comments. I never compared the nutritional value of organic vs conventional since there's no proof of one being superior to the other. As the study confirms it.

What in the world are you talking about going off on a diatribe? I never said you did compare the nutritional value of organic vs conventional.

But I truly had enough of the hypocrisy of some conservatives, expecting the gvt to stop telling us what to do yet them being the first one telling fellow conservatives what to do, based on their opinions.

You're confusing categories above. For me to say that the government should not prevent someone from drinking milk free of bovine somatotrophic hormone and to also say that it's wasting one's money spending extra to have "organic" hormone-free milk isn't hypocritical, unless, of course, you have your own special definition of hypocritical that differs from the one found in the dictionary.

[Aussiebabe]

In Australia you cannot hardly find white eggs in the market...Aussies believe that brown eggs have more nutrients...scientifically, of course, it is not true...but it is that “feeling” or “belief” thing.

[altura]

When someone mentioned your newbie status, you were offended. Just being here a short while doesn’t make you less valuable, everyone was a newbie once (’cept me, of course).

It’s just that you need to learn you WILL NOT be treated with kindness and respect on this forum if people disagree with you. You have to learn to deal with that or you will continue to be all huffy all the time.

A lot of people think organic foodies walk around Whole Foods in birkenstocks peering solemnly at the stuff for a trace of chemicals while sneering at people who shop at Wal-Mart.

I’m sure you’re not one of those, but there is heat to be taken. Relax.

[Aussiebabe]

Yes, I really like sprouts and know how to grow them. The problem is that the conditions that they are grown, time and temperature, are almost the perfect conditions for growing some harmful bacteria....so it can be dangerous to eat them raw....if you check the FDA site, you will see they are one of the worst causes of food poisoning. The only safe way to eat them is to cook them, unfortunately. But, it kind of like raw oysters...some people still eat them and take the risk, because they are so good