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Better Choices

Study: Organic Grains Offer Superior Nutrition than Conventional or “Natural”

True, organic is slightly more expensive. This is primarily because it is not subsidized by the government in the same way that conventional food is.

But what rarely gets mentioned is that organic also offers superior nutrition.

In two research reports recently completed by The Organic Center, which examined the nutritional differences of organically farmed grains compared to “natural” and conventional varieties, the authors concluded that commercially produced organic breads are more nutrient-rich, contain more whole food ingredients and have fewer preservatives and additives than conventional breads.

Additionally, organically grown wheat can contain a higher nutrient content than wheat grown using conventional farming practices.

Some of the specific findings from the two reports include:

• 63% of organic bread ingredients were found to be significant sources of important nutrients, while only 27% of conventional bread ingredients were nutritionally beneficial.

• On average, organic breads examined contained 49% whole food ingredients vs. 24% in “natural” breads and only 12 percent in conventional breads.

• Preservatives and additives made up 27% of ingredients in the conventional breads versus only 10% in the “natural” and 7% in the organic breads.

• With fewer inputs and not having to use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic crops must rely on their own natural defenses, which can help increase their antioxidant content.

• Organic farming can also encourage more robust roots, allowing for the extraction of nutrients deeper in the soil. The presence of mycorrhizal fungi in organic soil can help increase the uptake of nutrients as well.

• On average, 75% of nutrients are lost when a grain is refined and hulled, making refined bread options like conventional white bread far less superior in nutritional content.

MY TAKE

In this country, a false expectation has been created that food is supposed to be cheap, and as a result, many people are reluctant to pay extra for organic.

Therefore, it is up to each one of us to re-frame the conversation when it comes to the cost of organic.

We must inform people that spending slightly more for organic means that they are getting a product that also has more nutritional value.

As The Organic Center has correctly pointed out in its studies, organic wheat is just not the same as conventional wheat. This is the important message that needs to be shared.

To read both reports from The Organic Center – Daily Bread and With The Grain – click HERE.

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Organic Wine — Does it Contain Sulfites?

In wine, there are naturally occurring sulfites and added sulfites. The naturally occurring sulfites are a by-product of the fermentation process and it is nearly impossible to have a sulfite-free wine.

Winemakers have been working with sulfite agents, added sulfites, for hundreds of years. They were originally introduced in Europe as a preservative and are used to prevent spoiling.

It is possible, however, to have a wine that is free of added sulfates and that is organic wine. The four main attributes of USDA certified organic wine are:

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Better Choices

The Mystery Behind Organic Honey

One question has been really bothering me as of late: Is there such a thing as USDA certified organic honey?

Despite the picture you see above, there is good reason for me to have serious doubt.  Here is why.

In the past, I have spoken to numerous local beekeepers and when I asked them if their honey is organic, they have all told me that there is no such thing as USDA certified organic honey.

Yet when I go to the market, I see one or two brands of honey that have the USDA organic seal on the label. Almost all of the honey that has the seal on it comes from Brazil, which has made me wonder whether there is some type of corruption going on with the certification.

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Better Choices

Another Reason to Buy Organic – Conventional Tea Contains Illegal and Highly Toxic Pesticides

While we constantly hear about the tremendous health benefits of drinking tea, one thing that almost never gets mentioned in this message is just how critical it is to drink organic tea.

In a recently released report called Tea Steeped in Toxics, the excellent non-profit Beyond Pesticides gives us an inside look at what is going on in the tea industry. Needless to say, what they uncover is very ugly and very scary.

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livingmaxwell: a guide to organic food & drink