10 reasons to go organic in 2014
January 2, 2014
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A study published last year in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that daily consumption of fruits and vegetables can decrease risks of mortality by 10 percent and delay mortality by 1.12 years. Researchers also found that for every 200-gram increase of produce consumed, risk of death goes down by 6 percent. There was also a stronger correlation between longevity and eating fresh fruit and vegetables rather than cooked produce. This year, it's even more important that your produce is organic because the Environmental Protection Agency just raised the permitted tolerance levels of glyphosate residue in many fruits and vegetables. Several studies have connected glyphosate exposure with concerning health issues like estrogenic activity that could induce breast cancer cell growth, gut bacteria changes and other modern diseases.
One of the most ground-breaking studies of 2013 showed that organic milk contains a healthier balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids than its conventional counterpart. Heart-healthy omega-3s help reduce the risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Specifically, researchers found that organic milk contained 25 percent less omega-6 fatty acids and 62 percent more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional milk. The study also found that by consuming high levels of organic milk while reducing their intake of omega-6 fatty acids, women could decrease their omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid profile by about 80 percent.
Several recent studies support the idea that eating organic can help improve soil quality by building organic matter and supporting the soil micro biome. A study published in Crop Management showed that long-term organic management resulted in 40 percent more biologically active soil organic matter as well as lower acidity and higher amounts of carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and calcium when compared to conventionally managed soil. Researchers at Kansas State University found that the use of conventional fertilizers can decrease soil macro aggregate stability, an indicator of the soil's resistance to erosion and how well water is able to move through the soil.
New research published in 2013 shows that exposures to certain chemicals can be passed from generation to generation. An example of this concept of disease inheritance was described in a study published in 2013 that showed DDT exposure could increase rates of obesity in rats several generations down the line. Researchers exposed rats to DDT and found it caused an increase in dramatic fat accumulation and weight gain three generations down the line. While most of the studies examining this concept have focused only on animal tests the conclusions bring up reason for concern.
Studies published in 2013 suggest the use of synthetic pesticides may be contributing to the decline and extinction of many species of amphibians. Even frogs living in remote areas are exposed to toxic pesticides, according to a 2013 study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Pesticide exposure can result in increased amphibian mortality and endocrine disruption, effects that were explored in a 2013 article published in Scientific Reports. When researchers modeled agricultural spray scenarios using the recommended application rates for the pesticides, they found that frogs experienced high mortality, ranging from 100 percent after one hour to 40 percent after seven days. The researchers said that risk assessment procedures in place do not protect this vanishing animal group.
The Center for Disease Control has released a first-ever report on the human health burdens and threats posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The broad application of low doses of antibiotics in industrial farm animal production is a major contributing factor to antibiotic resistance. About 80 percent of all antibiotics sold are used in livestock facilities. Because organic management does not use antibiotics, studies have found that antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria are less prevalent in organically produced milk, eggs and meat than conventionally produced products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a commitment to phasing out the agricultural use of antibiotics, but at this point one of the only ways to ensure your animal products are antibiotic free is by choosing organic.
The continued decline in bee populations across the world has serious impacts for our entire food system. One of the most recent studies examining honey bee population declines showed that a combination of insecticides and fungicides can have a negative impact on bees' immune systems, resulting in decreased ability to resist infection by the parasite Nosema ceranae implicated in colony collapse disorder. Researchers found that the pollen bees collect to feed their larvae contained an average of nine different pesticide contaminants and made bees three times as likely to be infected by the parasites. Several studies have looked into neonicotinoid pesticides and their toxicity to bees. Neonicotinoids are a type of pesticide often applied to seeds so they become integrated into the plant's entire system. Research in 2013 published in PNAS examined how neonicotinoids affect bee immune function on a molecular level. The study found that even at low levels of exposure, neonicotinoid pesticides can weaken honey bee immune systems, which increases their risk of infection. The Xerces Society published a comprehensive review of the growing body of research on harmful effects that neonicotinoids have on beneficial insects and included recommendations on how to protect beneficial insects.
Dead zones—low-oxygen zones in the ocean caused primarily by nutrient pollution from synthetic fertilizers—have been growing in size since 1985. They are devoid of marine life, devestating the ocean environment as well as recreational fisheries and coastal economies. Measures taken in 2013 found the Dead Zone doubled in size from 2012, likely due to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution run-off from agricultural sources. The Organic Center is currently working to quantify the amount that organic production decreases nitrogen pollution. Preliminary reports show that organic vegetables and grains contribute about half the nitrogen pollution of conventional produce.
Some work done on the subject of climate change last year suggested organic production could be a key part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A study from Germany showed organic farming produces less greenhouse gases and uses less energy than conventional farming techniques. Organic dairy farms in the study were the biggest winners, emitting around 200 grams less carbon dioxide per kilogram of milk than conventional farms with the same milk yield. Another study showed that conversion to organic from conventional farming typically results in lower total fossil energy use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, a 2013 research study by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture showed that organically managed soils release 492 kg less carbon dioxide per hectare each year than conventionally managed soils. Researchers also found that organic farms absorbed more methane than conventional farms.
Organic agriculture is better for birds, according to a 2013 study from France. The researchers tested the impacts of organic agriculture versus conventional agriculture on farmland birds and found that organic farming clearly came out on top. Researchers found that organic agriculture had a global positive effect on bird abundance with ten out of the 36 species showing a significantly higher abundance on organic farms than on conventional farms. The study cited "bird-friendly" practices used by organic techniques, such as diverse crop rotations, reduced use of pesticides and the creation of more heterogeneous landscapes, as being responsible for these benefits.
Organic agriculture is better for birds, according to a 2013 study from France. The researchers tested the impacts of organic agriculture versus conventional agriculture on farmland birds and found that organic farming clearly came out on top. Researchers found that organic agriculture had a global positive effect on bird abundance with ten out of the 36 species showing a significantly higher abundance on organic farms than on conventional farms. The study cited "bird-friendly" practices used by organic techniques, such as diverse crop rotations, reduced use of pesticides and the creation of more heterogeneous landscapes, as being responsible for these benefits.
Want to help save the world in 2014? Go organic. This list from The Organic Center digs into the most recent research behind why organic agriculture benefits everything from ocean and soil health to the unhealthy omega fatty acid ratios in our bodies. It makes a pretty convincing case for spending the extra dollar or making the additional effort to choose, stock and buy pesticide-free food this year.
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