Topic: Organic or non-organic

[Stephen Georgiou]

"Organic = more nutrients..."

The fact is that there is absolutely no evidence for that statment. And that claim can certainly never be made as generally as that.

For maximal nutritional benefit from your food, just make sure it is fresh and unprocessed. Make sure your diet is varied and balanced.

Beyond those very simple guidlines, it is down to personal preference and budget as to whether you want to go 'organic'. Nothing wrong with doing so, as long as you are fully aware that the real current evidence suggests that you wont get anymore out of your food for doing so.

I will also add that if there are any very specific compounds you wish to avoid, then I would not rely on the 'organic' label by itself as an assurance.

[Stephen Georgiou]

FYI

http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/check-me-out-i-bought-some-posh-chocolate-im-political/

[Matt Erdman]

There is absolutely some evidence.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10587.php

I'm not really interested in debating this topic. It really is obvious if you are thinking about it.

[Stephen Georgiou]

There is absolutely some evidence.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10587.php

I'm not really interested in debating this topic. It really is obvious if you are thinking about it.

No problem if you dont want to debate the topic. But just to point out that actually what is presented there is not evidence. That is effectively an advertising article that tremedously biases and extrapolates horribly. There is no science in it. It is written by the 'soil association' who have everything to gain, and everything to loose from this issue. The so-called 'references' used in their article reveal just how poor it is. Please look at them yourself, and you will clearly see what I mean. The majority of these references are not true scientific references at all. They are just some kind of marketing junk. Furthermore, the only references that are actually published in a meaningful journal (lancet, BMJ etc) may sound nice and 'sciency', yet when you access them, they have absolutely nothing to do with organic food. The very rare reference that is in a good journal, and is to do with organic food, are actually pretty piss poor studies, with a cohort of about 3 people! (wow) Please dont take my word for it...access them yourself and empower yorself with knowledge.

The FACT is that there is no well conducted scientific study that has ever concluded the benefits of organic foods over non-organic. I have no problem with people having a hunch about something, I have no problem with people choosing to believe something when there is no evidence. Thats what religion and faith are all about, and who am i to knock it? But I have a very big problem with misinformation being touted as evidence.