The organic path to good health

But how beneficial are organic foods really? And can you be sure that what you are buying is truly organic?

Walk into any supermarket today and you are sure to spot an organic food section, one which stocks everything from fruits and vegetables to dairy products and frozen foods. Look closely and you may even find organically brewed beer and bedsheets dyed with organic ‘vegetable colours’.

But though the world is going organic with a vengeance, one question that remains unanswered is, are these organic products really beneficial?

The UK-based Food Standards Agency (FSA), which issues advice to consumers, says organic food is “not significantly different… from food produced conventionally”. According to researchers there is little evidence that an organic diet provides greater nutritional benefits, or that non-organic crops grown using pesticides and chemical fertilisers, are more harmful than their organic competitors.

While nutritionists  agree that no long-term research on the benefits of organic food has been undertaken in India, they say it is universally acknowledged that food and vegetables grown naturally are superior to their counterparts produced by “tampering with nature”.

“As far as nutritional superiority is concerned, more research needs to be done,” says  nutritionist Madhavi Bhatt-Trivedi. “But in a 2001 review of 41 studies, organic crops were all shown to have higher levels of Vitamin C, magnesium, and phosphorus.”

Further studies in 2006 and 2007 have found higher levels of vitamin C in organic fruit, 68 per cent higher levels of omega-3 in organic whole milk than non-organic whole milk, and 40 per cent more antioxidants in organic fruits and vegetables, adds Trivedi.

Nutritionist Anjali Mukerjee feels it is logical to think that organic food is more nutritious, as the idea of healthy eating is to ensure that you consume as few toxins as possible. “Any food or crop produced by using pesticides and fertilisers is bound to have residual chemicals in it,” she says.

Dietician and yoga teacher Shanta Pandit feels that probiotic and organic food go hand in hand. She says, “While the former activates the ‘good’ bacteria in our digestive system, the latter works on the holistic aspect of the body, improving immunity and general health.”

Even if organic food is good for health, it may not be beneficial for everyone. A recent research published in medical journal Lancet on probiotic food states that organic food may actually be harmful to people suffering from pancreatitis.

But probiotic food has been found to be useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, says Dr Prasanna Shah, consultant gastroenterologist at Jaslok Hospital. The reason, he explains, is that probiotic food has compounds, which alter the bacterial flora in the intestine and enable better digestion.

But while buying organic food, what you need to authenticate is whether what you are being sold is indeed organic or a ‘fake’ organic product, warns Manisha Tanna, a dietician with a leading city gym. Creating a pesticide-free product is easier said than done. Technically, organic crops must have had no application of prohibited chemicals for a minimum of three years. But due to the pervasive nature of many chemicals and their propensity to travel through air and water, organic products cannot claim to be totally pesticide-free, says Mukerjee.

“The vitamins and minerals that a person derives from consuming fresh green vegetables and fruits can’t be compared to the benefits derived from supplements consumed separately,” says nutritionist Radhika Bhatt. “Natural way is always the best.”

Dr Anand offers a piece of advice for all health-conscious people. She says, “Organic or otherwise, always buy vegetables and fruits that are in season.”

s_deepa@dnaindia.net