Organic foods may contain extra antioxidants
Contrary to previous studies, new analysis finds nutritional benefits over conventionally grown foods
By Beth Mole
As more and more consumers go organic, a new study has renewed debate over the potential harms and benefits of organic foods.
Many studies have found that, vitamin for vitamin, organic foods are nutritionally equal to their conventional counterparts. In clinical studies, people who eat organic food tend to be no healthier than those who don’t. But a new analysis of data from 343 published studies finds that, compared with conventionally grown foods, organic plant-based foods may pack 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants and around 48 percent less cadmium, a cancer-causing metal. The study appeared June 26 in the British Journal of Nutrition.