Physical Wellness

Is Organic Food Really as Healthy?

By Kanika Gupta | Update Date: Feb 19, 2016 02:39 PM EST

There has been a surge in organic food demand over the years due to increased awareness for health. However, how is organic food any better than the regular food and most importantly, does it have any real health benefits?

According to a new study published in British Journal of Nutrition, researchers analyzed organic meat and dairy and revealed that it contained a staggering 50% more omega-3 fatty acids. It was also discovered that the organic foods are much more concentrated in essential nutrients and antioxidants as compared to other foods, reports NPR

The study led by Newcastle University evaluated global data to obtain the research findings. In the process, they reviewed more than 250 research papers on the subject matter, says The Guardian

The new study said that by increasing the consumption of essential fatty acids by opting for organic food could bring a significant change in the health of people.

Chris Seal, Professor of Food and Human Nutrition at Newcastle University says, "Omega-3s are linked to reductions in cardiovascular disease, improved neurological development and function, and better immune function.

"Western European diets are recognized as being too low in these fatty acids and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends we should double our intake.

"But getting enough in our diet is difficult. Our study suggests that switching to organic would go some way towards improving intakes of these important nutrients."

Leading Nutritionist Claudia Norris explains that the benefit of organic food lies in its growth process which uses natural methods.

"Organic animals are treated differently to non-organic animals, as they generally have a higher welfare and more space to roam.

"They also undergo no hormone treatment (used to increase milk production in non-organic cows) or to accelerate growth and weight of the livestock. Organic animals are banned from routine antibiotics, and have a natural, GMO-free diet," as reported by Closer.com

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