Choose Organic

In the third week of the Life Force Diet you are providing your body with the highest quality and most nutrient-rich food to help it restore you to great and vibrant health. Organic food is food in the state that nature intended it to be, and at least 75 studies prove it provides higher nutritional value than con­ventional produce. Consuming organic produce as much as possible on the Life Force Diet frees your body from attempting to detoxify pesticide residues or trying to deal with much of our food supply’s genetically modified DNA. Despite these benefits, some people argue that conventional foods are preferable to organic.

There have been two main arguments against buying and eat­ing organic food. First, critics state that the nutritional difference between organic and conventional (using chemical herbicides, pes­ticides and/or fertilizers) fruits and vegetables is negligible. The second argument is that organic produce costs too much. There is no shortage of evidence demonstrating the value of organic foods from a health and nutritional perspective. I would also question whether the cost argument holds as much weight these days. Besides, on the Life Force Diet, you’ll be eliminating the costlier processed, prepared, and packaged foods, as well as reducing or eliminating meat, all of which will substantially reduce the final price of your grocery bill. Let’s explore the case for organic foods.

Virginia Worthington, Doctor of Science and a certified nutrition specialist at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Public Health, reviewed 41 published studies comparing the nutritional value of organically grown and conventionally grown fruits, vegetables, and grains. She concluded that there are significantly more of several nutrients in organic crops—27 percent more vitamin C, 21.1 percent more iron, 29.3 percent more magnesium, and 13.6 percent more phosphorus. The research also indicated that organic products had 15.1 percent fewer nitrates than their conventional counterparts. Wor­thington also compared five servings of organic vegetables (lettuce, spinach, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage) with the equivalent serving of conventionally grown vegetables. She found that only the organic servings provided the recommended daily intake of vitamin C for men and women.

Research from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom reported that organically produced food had higher levels of spe­cific antioxidants and lower levels of mycotoxin (a fungal infection that can affect food crops) than conventional samples. The same research found that grass-based organic cattle diets reduce the risk of E. coli contamination while grain-based conventional diets increase the risk.

An Italian study conducted by the Istituto nazionale di ricerca per gli alimenti e la nutrizione (National Institute of Food and Nu­trition Research) reported that organic pears, peaches, and oranges had higher antioxidant levels than their conventional counterparts. This multi-year study found that organic pears contained more vitamin C and other antioxidants. Interestingly, the organic pears were more resistant to mildew and fungi— an argument often used against organic food production, which is mistakenly viewed as more susceptible to pests. While the researchers did not report phy­tonutrient content, mildew and fungi resistance may also indicate higher phytonutrient content in the organic crops. I’d be curious to see this tested as well.

The second argument regarding cost will continue to lose steam as organic food returns to popularity and greater availability; however, almost everyone will find that by removing processed, prepared and packaged foods from your shopping list and replacing them with organic whole foods, your weekly shopping order will decrease in cost.

Your body deserves the most nutritional food available to build a healthier, happier you.  And, that’s the best reason to choose organic when possible.

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Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, DAc, CNC, is a six-time and best-selling book author whose works include:  The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, and The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan.  She is a doctor of natural medicine, holistic nutritionist, and holistic life coach®.  Visit:  www.TheLifeForceDiet.com to learn more.