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Just how much better for you is 'Organic' food?


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Old 10-11-2014, 14:17
Aura101
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Just reading this article here:

Here are seven ways you can take power back from the corporate bullies that make up the UK grocery manufacturers and retailers:

1. Stop buying all non-organic processed foods. Instead, build your diet around whole, unprocessed foods, especially raw fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats from coconut oil, avocadoes, organic pastured meat and eggs, and raw nuts and seeds.
2. Buy most of your foods from your local farmer's market and/or organic farms. Get a veggie box delivered which can also contain organic bread, meat, eggs and milk.
3. Cook most or all your meals at home using whole, organic ingredients.
4. Try to frequent restaurants that serve organic, cooked-from-scratch, local food.
5. Buy open-pollinated and/or organic seeds for your garden. This includes both decorative plants and edibles.
6. Boycott all lawn and garden chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.)
7. Become an avid label reader.

If more of us followed the above advice then we would be fitter and healthier and the planet will be life-supporting again. Voting with your pocket at every meal matters. It makes a huge difference. By boycotting the big corporate brands, you can help level the playing field, and help take back control of our food supply. And as always, continue educating yourself about genetically engineered foods, (don’t buy them) and share what you’ve learned with family and friends.



Now that more a message aimed at the companies who produce processed food.
but health wise, what would be the difference between going out and buying a small punnet of 'normal' strawberrys grown in the New forest for £2, to buying some 'Organic' Strawberrys for £3 to £4?
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Old 10-11-2014, 14:26
TheTruth1983
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In your example of strawberries, the difference is taste. We have a greenhouse and grow our own strawberries and tomatoes, as well as a small garden where we grow turnips, cabbage, parsnips etc. The difference between this and non organic store bought produce is remarkable.

As far as health benefits goes, I am not convinced that there is any significant difference and it seems to be a way to "stick it" to corporations rather than a way to be healthier.
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Old 10-11-2014, 15:52
Shrike
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One of the reasons your home-grown strawberries and tommies taste better could simply that they are fully ripe - shops have to have their fruit harvested early so they can be transported without bruising. Also they will tend to favour varieties that stand up to transport which may not be the most flavoursome ones.
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Old 11-11-2014, 12:33
Watcher #1
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Pretty sure that whenever studies have been done, there is no nutritive benefit for organic vs non-organic.

However, if you are concerned about pesticides etc. and their impact on the environment, then there is an advantage to organic.
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Old 11-11-2014, 13:04
walterwhite
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I wonder how many people in the UK could afford to adopt that advice.
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Old 12-11-2014, 11:38
cnbcwatcher
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I've tried some organic food and to be honest I didn't notice any difference in taste between it and normal food. Plus it's more expensive. I personally think it's a bit of a cop out.
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Old 16-11-2014, 16:29
brangdon
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Pretty sure that whenever studies have been done, there is no nutritive benefit for organic vs non-organic.

However, if you are concerned about pesticides etc. and their impact on the environment, then there is an advantage to organic.
True. Also, with meat, there is an ethical dimension. Organic chicken farming ought to be less cruel to the chickens, even if there is no health benefit to the human.
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Old 16-11-2014, 16:47
andersonsonson
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I buy organic milk but rest non organic because its cheaper
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Old 17-11-2014, 06:36
sweetpeanut
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Eat things in season. Trouble is we can get every single fruit and veg all year round. To do this food has to have been messed with. So only buy in season and as local as possible.

I buy berries and freeze them so can have them out of season. Or buy frozen food as its meant to have more vitamins than "fresh" these days unless you grow it yourself.
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Old 17-11-2014, 11:50
John_Elway
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I've tried some organic food and to be honest I didn't notice any difference in taste between it and normal food. Plus it's more expensive. I personally think it's a bit of a cop out.
I'm sorry but... what? Since when has food laden with chemicals become "normal"?

Real food is wild, next best is what has been labelled as organic.

Organic food shouldn't have an extra word, it should be the other way around. Food, and chemical food.

Of course chemical food is cheaper but really at the end of the day, much of the nonsense in supermarkets isn't food anyway.
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Old 17-11-2014, 12:57
indianwells
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Eat things in season. Trouble is we can get every single fruit and veg all year round. To do this food has to have been messed with. So only buy in season and as local as possible.

I buy berries and freeze them so can have them out of season. Or buy frozen food as its meant to have more vitamins than "fresh" these days unless you grow it yourself.
This x100. Not only is eating seasonal the best way to eat it's a hell of lot cheaper.
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Old 17-11-2014, 13:06
evil c
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Note that some pesticides and insecticides are permitted by the Soil Association for organic farming who say their use is 'severly restricted' whatever that means. In 2010 the BBC raised concerns about what organic actually meant. A couple of months ago I tried to find out details of insecticides and pesticides used by organic growers but quickly ran into a brick wall.

Neonicotinoid pesticides are banned for organic production however and three have been banned for all farming by the EU for two years from 2013, due to concerns about the death of bees (and wild birds): http://www.theguardian.com/environme...pesticide-bees

What the Soil Association say: http://www.soilassociation.org/trade...ertisingclaims

BBC article from Jan 2010: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8415576.stm
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Old 17-11-2014, 13:31
Moggio
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I'm sorry but... what? Since when has food laden with chemicals become "normal"?
Hate to break it to you but all food is chemicals, so your concern is a bit misplaced and largely hysterical.

"Organic" food isn't better for you either, doesn't taste any nicer and isn't necessarily better for the environment.

Will probably cost you more though.
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Old 17-11-2014, 15:32
Menk
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I've tried some organic food and to be honest I didn't notice any difference in taste between it and normal food. Plus it's more expensive. I personally think it's a bit of a cop out.
I often buy organic food, particularly fruit and veg, but I don't notice a particular difference in taste in the majority of the produce.

It's a bit hit and miss really, but I rarely notice the difference in taste in most salad items or in basic items such as bananas, potatoes, mushrooms and onions.

The biggest difference is carrots - there is never any taste in a supermarket's bog standard carrots but organic always taste nice. The same with oranges, many berries, cauliflower, some greens and leeks. The leeks I used to get in my veg box used to make my eyes water!

However, rather than buying some items organic (tomatoes are a really good example here) I buy the supermarket's top quality range. The taste is better, but of course you pay for it. It's more expensive than organic, but the taste can be really good.
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Old 17-11-2014, 16:15
andersonsonson
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Agree with organic carrots, definitely taste better and not that much more expensive
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Old 17-11-2014, 16:42
TheTruth1983
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Eat things in season. Trouble is we can get every single fruit and veg all year round. To do this food has to have been messed with. So only buy in season and as local as possible.

I buy berries and freeze them so can have them out of season. Or buy frozen food as its meant to have more vitamins than "fresh" these days unless you grow it yourself.
Now that I think about it, taste isn't so much about organic V non organic as it is about whether or not it is in season. Fruit and veg always seems to taste better in season regardless of whether it is organic or not.
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