The organic nutrition industry is growing at an incredible rate, ready to reach a value of $320 billion by 2025. Countless companies are now investing more money and time into the potential of natural and organic food, but consumers are still questioning the true value of this solution.
In the last few years, the growth of the organic food sector has highlighted a growing trend for customers to focus more carefully on the ingredients they put into their bodies. During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the sales of organic food and drink grew even further, driven by an increased focus on wellness.
But what are the scientific health benefits of going organic? Can the research prove the value of organic eating as part of a full wellness strategy?
The ingredients of organic nutrition
For clinical professionals interested in confirming the benefits of organic nutrition, the research begins with the ingredients within this food. Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without the assistance of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. While these substances are generally deemed safe in conventional farming quantities, repeated exposure could be dangerous.
Common pesticides have been linked with developmental delays in humans, as well as reduced sperm quality in men, and even higher chances of mental conditions like ADHD. Organically-grown crops, on the other hand, are 48% less likely to test positive for dangerous substances like cadmium – a heavy metal that can accumulate in the kidneys and liver.
Organic nutrition can potentially replace dangerous substances with more nutritional benefits. Organic products in the milk and food landscape have 50% more omega 3 fatty acids. Switching to organic products could raise the intake of omega 3 in a standard consumer, without the risk of increased calories.
Replacing hormones with antioxidants
Further scientific study into organic nutrition finds that conventional livestock are often fed antibiotics to prevent against illness. Some livestock may also be injected with growth hormones that allow them to gain weight faster or increase production of milk. Traces of these substances can make their way into consumers, leading to a higher risk of antibiotic resistance, and problems with chronic illness.
Fortunately, eating organic nutrition could be the key to improving consumer diets. One study found that organic onions had a 20% higher content of antioxidants than conventional counterparts. Although experts are still exploring the full benefits of organic foods for nutrition purposes, the existing results are positive.
Another benefit worth considering is that today’s consumers don’t necessarily need to add extra foods to their diet to unlock the benefits of the right nutrition. Some of the biggest benefits of organic substances like medicinal mushrooms can be implemented in the form of regular supplementation. Most mushrooms have huge benefits when it comes to things like Vitamin D intake, but there are also mushrooms like Reishi, which can reduce the risk of inflammation in the body when taken as a supplement.
Clinical professionals recommending a diet of more organic substances could offer their clients the perfect combination of nutritional foods and supplemental solutions. This could be particularly useful for people who have dietary restrictions or preferences to consider.
Are organic foods essential to good health?
The benefits of organic nutrition are evident in the increasingly positive results of various studies into diet and consumer health. However, not everyone will be able to switch to a completely organic diet overnight. Today’s clinicians need to be aware that organic foods are more expensive, and often more difficult to access than their conventional counterparts.
For patients that are restricted in their ability to use organic foods in their diet, the best solution may be to recommend that they avoid foods in the dirty dozen list, as these have the highest concentration of pesticides and dangerous substances. An increased focus on organic nutrition may also be more valuable to vulnerable groups, such as young children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Individuals who are limited in their ability to access organic foods or replace conventional foods with all-organic options can consider supplementation. As mentioned above, supplementation with the right highly nutritious substances can build upon the existing benefits of traditional fruits and vegetables. Additionally, with medicinal mushroom supplements like the Reishi plant, it’s possible to fight back against the inflammation that conventional products can cause.
Major medicinal mushroom supplements like Agaricus Blazei and Cordyceps Sinensis also deliver further benefits in the form of immune system support. A stronger immune system will be particularly beneficial to those unable to unlock the full benefits of organic nutrition.