Is it worth paying so much for organic food? For these, in particular, yes

While it is true that every day increases the number of adepts to food of bioor ecological origin, the truth is that its high cost, generally, makes it impossible for most people to base their food on this type of products.

But is it really worth paying so much for organic food? Do these foods have proven benefits or only have environmental impact benefits? The truth is that in the world of organic food combine both factors, but some specific bio products, such as we tell you today, bring greater benefits.

Generalized confusion around the “ecological world”

According to official figures, the demand for organic products in leading countries such as the United Kingdom has increased by more than 7% in recent times, while in our country, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment (MAPAMA), almost one third of the population consumes them on a regular basis and in 25% of cases on a daily basis.

Why is this increase in the consumption of organic products taking into account its price?
The reason for this new trend encompasses all kinds of contemplations, from those who only point to a food fashion promoted by people like the Obama himself, passing through those who mainly contemplate environmental benefits and finally reaching the most generalized sector: those who rely on food healthier environment where the risks of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or unnatural food processes are minimized.

What is clear is that if we could choose openly whether to acquire them or not (without taking into account any external factors such as economic), given the possible benefits that can provide this type of food, the choice would be clear; but as always not everything is so simple …

The biggest drawback of this type of product is its price, well above that offered by its conventional counterparts, which makes them only achievable, on a daily basis (not sporadically), to a sector of the population with a good economic level.

To what extent is it worth to spend on organic products

As we have seen, according to MAPAMA studies, the main reason for purchasing these products in our country, in addition to the commitment to sustainability and the environment, is the expectation of consuming food free of chemicals and whose conservation is as natural as possible : but at what price?

At present, science is not yet unanimous in determining clearly and scientifically the benefits of organic products over conventional ones, so that professors such as Juan José Badiola, a member of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), attribute great part of the purchase decision to the “trust factor”.

If we combine both factors (cost and expectations), the choice when buying bio products is purely personal, but from the Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture (SEAE) the priorities in the purchase of organic food should be marked by the choice of food of daily consumption that have been proven that can bring extra benefits in our diet.

Fruits and vegetables: oranges and their vitamin power

According to statistics offered by MAPASA, the Spanish consumer starts in the purchase of organic products through fruits and vegetables. A positive choice considering that they are food of daily consumption of primary necessity reaching to represent practically 40% of the total ecological consumption of our country.

Within the range of organic fruits and vegetables with higher content of iron and phosphorus, it is worth mentioning the benefits of oranges and mandarins, variants with greater contribution in fiber and essential oils . A recent study by the Polytechnic University of Valencia has shown that organic oranges contain 10% more vitamin C than conventional variants.

Similarly, the rest of organic fruits and vegetables benefit from the inhibition of chemical fertilizers that negatively affect the potassium and calcium content in these foods. Although a priori do not look so nice and sleek: do not be fooled by appearances!

Meat and fish: antioxidant power

Who has not heard that the stress of the animal has an impact on the quality of their meat? sure to all. But in this case, organic meats and fish not only base their benefits on the quality of life of the animal, but also on its natural diet and inhibition of drugs.

The animal raised in ecological conditions bases a minimum of 60% of its food in fresh and natural products that confers to its meats better organoleptic properties (smell and flavor) and greater antioxidant power , by the high natural intake of vitamin E of the animal.

Something similar happens with organic fish . Natural and controlled breeding regulates the absence of chemicals and metals in the fish, further reducing the possibility that the animal may contain possible parasites.

Milk and Dairy: Healthy Fatty Acids

Another variant that can not be lacking when it comes to choosing organic products is milk. It has been the British Journal of Nutrition magazine, which recently published the results of an analysis of 196 articles on the composition of organic milk and its conventional homonym.

The results of the review showed that organic milk contains up to 50% more Omega 3 fatty acids and higher amounts of vitamin E and conjugated linoleic acid, always taking the whole milk version. All this reports the clear cardiovascular and immunological benefits of organic milk and its derivatives, over conventional.

However, in contrast to this data, organic milk is not recommended for people with low intake or iodine needs, since its content is much lower than in the case of conventional milk (74% lower).