It’s tempting to pretend that all we eat is sun-soaked tomatoes straight from the garden, but let’s be honest: we all have at least one secret Whole Foods purchase, from pesticide-free versions of our favorite microwave oatmeal packages to non-GMO products. boxed macaroni and cheese gummy candies complete with a packet of not-so-neon but still fairly processed cheese powder. (Seriously, how do they make that powdered cheese taste so good?)
Well, it turns out that we don’t have to feel guilty about these guilty pleasures. A new peer-reviewed study by EWG scientists has become the first to delve into how much healthier organic processed foods are than non-organic processed foods. And the answer is … a lot.
The study looked at more than 80,000 foods and found that organic products contained significantly fewer ingredients associated with negative health effects (think glyphosate, which the World Health Organization named a probable human carcinogen in 2015, or carrageenan, than some have been linked to intestinal inflammation). and is prohibited in infant formulas and other baby foods in the EU). Of course, that’s no surprise – these and others, like synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, and more, are banned under organic certification, which allows fewer than 40 in total. synthetic additives.
According to the study, packaged organic foods were also shown to have fewer of the ultra-processed ingredients that some preliminary research has shown may actually promote overeating. (As in … the more garbage you eat, the more garbage want to eat. Sounds familiar?)
From the Archives of the Organic Authority
And to top it all, packaged organic foods also contain more potassium and less added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. In fact, the study showed that the probability of being classified as organic increased the less sodium, sugar, additives and ultra-processed ingredients the food contained.
This research contradicts two previous studies in the same field and presents some important differences. Compared to a 2014 study, which compared only ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, or a 2020 study in Italy, which used a much smaller sample size, this new study overcame the limitations of previous research to reach these exciting conclusions.
Look, it’s no wonder whole foods are always the best. But nearly 60 percent of the calories Americans eat are processed or packaged, a number that is rising: Study shows that young people ages two to 19 in the US get even more calories from ultra-processed foods. , an average of 67 percent. In 2018, more than 70 percent of the packaged food and beverage supply in 2018 was ultra-processed, a category classified by the NOVA Food Classification System developed at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil as composed of “industrial formulations made in entirely or mainly from substances extracted from food ”, essentially more laboratory experiments than benefits and a category related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. And according to the study authors, the more a food is processed, the more likely it is to be calorie dense, higher in trans fat, saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium … than, according to the EE Dietary Guidelines. In the US, we are already consuming “more of the recommendations” as a society.
Organics have already been shown to offer better health benefits than conventional ones, not only for what they don’t contain, but for what they do. Organic foods often have better nutrient profiles, with a higher omega-3 content in meat and dairy and a higher antioxidant profile in fruits and vegetables. And now we know that in addition to the fresh stuff, whether processed foods are part of your daily routine or an occasional treat, take comfort in the fact that when looking for an organic alternative to ultra-processed potato chips, popcorn corn or even microwave mac n cheese, you’re actually making a better choice.
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