We all have at least one in our lives. That person who tut-tuts every time we buy something organic.
You know the one I mean. That friend who insists you’re just wasting your money.
Well, tell him you’re sorry, but you have to disagree. Because he couldn’t be more wrong.
Plenty of studies prove eating organic is worth the extra cost. And now French researchers have another one to add to that growing stack.
And this one is a doozy.
Eating organic reduced cancer risk by up to 76%
The huge population study followed nearly 69,000 adults.
Researchers at the Sorbonne Paris Cite Epidemiology and Statistics Research Centre asked volunteers about the organic foods they ate. All the data was then compiled and assigned a score based on how often a participant ate organic foods.
In the seven-year follow-up period, there were 1,340 new cases of cancer. And it turns out eating organic dramatically slashed cancer risk.
The study compared the volunteers who seldom ate organic foods to those who regularly did.
And according to the researchers, the organic fans had a…
- 25 percent lower overall cancer risk
- 34 percent lower risk of breast cancer
- 76 percent lower risk of lymphoma
And this was no fluke.
When the scientists added in other factors which could have changed the results they didn’t. With demographics, diet, lifestyle, and family history factored in the numbers remained rock solid. Folks who chose to eat organic foods STILL had significantly lower cancer risks.
In other words, your friend is WAY off base.
Eating organic slashes pesticide exposure
The researchers even have a theory why eating organic could have such a dramatic effect. And if you’re a regular Healthier Talk reader, it probably won’t surprise you.
It’s likely because folks who eat organic foods are exposed to far fewer pesticides.
As I’ve explained before, the creepy chemicals in our food can harm our health. And they can increase our risks for some devastating diseases.
In fact, some common pesticides are already associated with cancer in humans…
- malathion – probably carcinogenic
- diazinon – probably carcinogenic
- parathion – possibly carcinogenic
- tetrachlorvinphos – possibly carcinogenic
And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a link between eating organic and better health.
Studies show organic foods are healthier
For example, two earlier studies found a lower risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in folks who eat organic.
A University of Minnesota study confirmed milk from organic, grass-fed cattle has higher levels of healthy fatty acids. Earlier studies found eating organic dairy and beef reduces inflammatory omega-6s. And at the same time, it raises healthy omega-3s and CLA.
The omega-3 levels in wild-caught fish are about 50 percent higher than in farmed fish. Plus they contain fewer pesticides and other toxins.
And a massive meta-analysis of over 300 studies found that organically grown produce is healthier. It’s far lower in the pesticides I talked about earlier. And it’s higher in antioxidants and other protective compounds.
So the next time your friend insists eating organic is a waste of money set him straight. The slightly higher cost could keep you cancer free.
She is an advocate of self-education and is passionate about the power of group knowledge sharing, like the kind found right here on HealthierTalk.com. Alice loves to share her views on holistic and natural healing as well as her, sometimes contentious, thoughts on the profit-driven inner workings of traditional medicine.
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