By Julia Chiappetta
That is the question… and people who buy organic produce, like me, are usually convinced it’s better for their health and therefore willing to venture to markets or farms to seek quality products.
That said, there have not been many studies on the subject, but the pesticide issue alone is enough evidence for me to eat organic and consume calories and nutrients vs. eating conventional and consuming calories and chemicals.
Recently, I came across a new French study that followed 70,000 adults, most of them women, for five years, which reported that the most frequent consumers of organic food had 25 percent fewer cancers overall than those who never ate organic. Those who ate the most organic fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat and other foods, had a particularly steep drop in the incidence of lymphomas, and a significant reduction in postmenopausal breast cancers.
According to Julia Baudry, the study’s lead author and a researcher with the Center of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, “We did expect to find a reduction, but the extent of the reduction is quite important.” She noted the study does not prove an organic diet causes a reduction in cancers, but strongly suggests “that an organic-based diet could contribute to reducing cancer risk.”
The people in the study were divided into three groups: those who never ate organic foods, those who ate them occasionally and those who ate organic most of the time.
Oncologist Dale Shepard, MD, PhD, did not take part in the research, but says the study did show a decrease in risk for certain cancers for those who ate more organic. “What they found was that in patients who ate mostly organic foods, there were fewer cancers. Dr. Shepard points out that “people who eat organic foods also have the tendency to eat healthier diets and exercise more, both of which are traits that have been associated with reduced cancer risk, so while it is difficult to say at this point that eating organic is directly associated with a reduction in cancer risk, it’s always good to think of ways we can try to prevent cancers, whether it’s through more screening or improving our lifestyle habits and, in general, we know that healthier diets are better for you when it comes to cancer risk. He concludes by saying, “Any time people can incorporate more fruits and vegetables and minimize processed foods, the better.
While more research needs to be done to look at the role that organic food may play in cancer prevention, it’s important for people to focus on risk factors that are within their control. And eating a healthy diet is something everyone can do.”
The organic food industry has been growing in recent years in Europe and the United States, with sales in the U.S. reaching 45.2 billion, as reported by The Organic Trade Association’s 2018 Survey. For food to be certified organic by the Department of Agriculture, it must be grown without the use of most synthetic fertilizers, pesticides like Malathion & Diazinon, herbicides like Glyphosate and genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).
Meat must also come from animals fed organic diets without hormones or antibiotics.
Eating organic is smart and clean and a good choice, in my humble opinion. Our food sources have become so sketchy, especially with the onset of GMO’s, so why not be on the safe side?
I encourage you to eat organic as much as possible, including lots of yummy vegetables and fruits. As always, please drink a nice tall, organic, yummy, green juice on an empty stomach each morning, and try a shot of wheat grass as a booster, because…green is good! Facing the darker skies so much earlier has been an adjustment for me, but as I look out the window in my office, I am reminded that the leaves must fall, the soil needs to rest right now, and that we find so many blessings to be grateful for in each season.
Be encouraged!
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/well/eat/can-eating-organic-food-lower-your-cancer-risk.html
Julia Chiappetta is the author of “Breast Cancer: The Notebook” (Gemini Media, 2006) and is also the owner of Julia Chiappetta Consulting. She lives in Cos Cob. More information and past columns can be found at JuliaChiappetta.com