There has been a lot of hype about organic foods in the media which has lead manyconsumers to question the validity of the term “organic”. Is it just a word or concept that has beencreated to enable food companies to charge us more for our groceries?
Personally I believe that organic food is better for us, and especially important when it comes to feeding children and babies. Children consume more food on a per-weight basis than adults and therefore they have a higher ratio of exposure to any toxicants, but they are also more vulnerable than adults as their bodies are still developing.
When my daughter was born I wanted to give her the best start in life, and I fed her home made meals using only fresh locally grown organic ingredients, but it is very tempting as the children get older to give in to pressures of time and what their friends are eating. Convenience foods are called that for a reason, but as parents I believe we should be mindful of what we are giving them.
Research has shown that children with conventional diets had on average nine times more organophosphate insecticides in their urine than children fed organic produce and that exposure to pesticides can lead to health and behavioural problems, including ADHD.
Many expats have come to live in the Mallorca for the healthy outdoor lifestyle it provides us and our children. It is a wonderful environment for our children to grow up in so giving them organic food seems to be the obvious complement to this way of life.
So what is organic and is it really better for us?
Organic foods are those foods that are produced, processed and packaged without using chemicals.
According to a study by the Globe and Mail and CTV News on the nutrient quality of fruit and vegetables, compared to 50 years ago, today’s non organic fruit and vegetables contain dramatically less vitamins and minerals. The average potato has lost 100% of its [beta carotene], 57% of its vitamin C and iron, 28% of its calcium, 50% of its riboflavin, and18% of its thiamine.
Similar results applied to 24 other fruits and vegetables. For broccoli, all seven nutrients fell, including a 63% decrease in calcium and a 34% decrease in iron.
In a French study, a cancer specialist studying the nutrient qualities of food grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France showed that for the twelve foods where his study is complete, the organic foods showed increased quantities of vitamins A, C, E, and the B group, increased elements such as zinc, increased minerals such as calcium, and increased fibre.
So perhaps it is time we all began to embrace organic products. We live in a beautiful environment, let’s not spoil it with the things we eat and feed to our children!