A Word About Organic Foods and Weight Loss

I have had several people tell me that they try to eat healthy. When asked about their eating habits, they simply reply "I always try to buy organic". Organic foods are often thought to confer health benefits. Several studies have been done to see if organic produce really is healthier. Results have been mixed. Some studies show that organic fruits and vegetables have slightly more vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown produce while some studies show no difference. Many different factors affect the amount of nutrients in produce including the soil, growing conditions, genetic make up of the seed and variety of the plant. Simply not applying pesticides does not make the produce healthier for you, it just makes it safer as it does not have pesticides. For example, Potato chips made from organic potatoes are just as bad for you as chips made from conventionally grown potato chips.

Do organic foods help you lose weight? In a recent study, researchers showed 100 study participants nutrition information for a regular Oreo cookie and the nutrition information for a similar cookie made with organic flour and sugar. The label clearly showed a serving size of 160 calories for both cookies. Even after reading the label, 38% of participants thought that the organic cookie had few calories than non-organic brands.

Just as organic foods have the same nutrients as non-organic, they also have the same calories. Those organic potato chips or Oreo type cookies have the same calories as their non-organic counterparts. As mentioned before in this blog, weight loss is a matter of eating fewer calories than you burn off.

Are organic foods worth eating if they do not offer more nutrition or lower calories? Reducing pesticide intake is important but organic foods typically cost more than non-organic foods. Whether to buy organic or not is a personal decision. Many people feel it is worth the cost while many others do not. If you do choose to buy organic, understand that organic foods will not help you lose weight.