Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

Why Organic is Better For You Than Conventionally Grown Foods - Did you 
ever wonder if there is any scientific evidence supporting the superiority 
of organic food? 
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Why-Organic-is-Better-For-You-Than-Co
nventionally-Grown-Foods-8774.aspx 
 
One of the most comprehensive and definitive studies of its kind has
demonstrated that organically grown kiwi fruit contain more
health-promoting factors than conventionally grown fruit.

The study achieved high precision by comparing kiwis grown next to each
other on the same farm, at the same time, under the same environmental
conditions. It was also the first study to examine phenolic compounds.

The organically grown kiwi fruit had increased levels of polyphenols,
higher antioxidant activity, and higher levels of vitamin C and important
minerals. The scientists conducting the study attributed the differences to
the organic fruits surviving against pests in the absence of pesticides.
Higher antioxidant activity, for example, is thought to be a natural
reaction to stress.

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture March 27, 2007
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/114202162/ABSTRACT

EurekAlert March 25, 2007
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-03/soci-oih032107.php

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I've written a great deal about the value of organic whole foods to your
health versus conventionally grown foods, but some of you may still not be
convinced there's any real difference.

Well you simply cannot use that excuse anymore. Organically grown foods
have now been definitively shown to contain more nutrients and healthy
compounds.

I know this is not rocket science and there has been prevoius research
supporting this, but, on average, conventional produce has only 83 percent
of the nutrients of organic produce. Previous studies have found
significantly higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium
and phosphorus, and significantly less nitrates (a toxin) in organic crops.

But more importantly, conventionally grown food is often tainted with
chemical residues and is genetically modified. Both of these can be harmful
to you. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60 percent of
herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides and 30 percent of insecticides to be
carcinogenic.

Pesticides can have many negative influences on your health, including
neurotoxicity, disruption of your endocrine system, carcinogenicity and
immune system suppression. Pesticide exposure may also affect male
reproductive function and has been linked to miscarriages in women.

By the way, kiwis are among the list of the dozen "consistently clean"
foods cited in the Environmental Working Group's Shoppers' Guide. If you're
having a tough time finding a local source of organic foods, I urge you to
check out this page of solid resources that may be near you.

Related Articles:

    Is Organic Good Enough?

    How to Get Inexpensive Organic, Locally-Grown Vegetables

    You Are Being Ripped Off by Much of the ''Organic'' Food You Are Buying