Some people think organic food is safer, healthier, and tastier than conventionally grown food 3. This article compares organic and non-organic foods, including their nutrient content and effects on human health.

Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of:. In order to be labelled organic, a food product must be free of artificial food additives.

This includes artificial sweeteners, preservatives, coloring, flavoring, and monosodium glutamate MSG. Organically grown crops tend to use natural fertilizers like manure to improve plant growth. Animals raised organically are not given antibiotics or hormones.

Organic farming tends to improve soil quality and the conservation of groundwater. It also reduces pollution and may be better for the environment. The most commonly purchased organic foods are fruits, vegetables, grains , dairy products and meat. Processed organic products are also available, such as sodas, cookies, and meat substitutes.

Organic foods are produced through farming practices that only use natural substances. This means avoiding all artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs.

This is most likely due to natural variation in food handling and production. However, evidence does suggest that foods grown organically may be more nutritious.

Several older studies have found that organic foods generally contain higher levels of antioxidants and certain micronutrients, such as vitamin C, zinc, and iron 4 , 5 , 6 , 7.

This was comparable to eating 1—2 extra portions of fruit and vegetables daily 7. Organic plants do not rely on chemical pesticide sprays to protect themselves. Instead, they produce more of their own protective compounds, namely antioxidants. Organically grown crops have also been shown to have lower levels of nitrate.

High nitrate levels are associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer 9 , Organic milk and dairy products may contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and slightly higher amounts of iron, vitamin E, and some carotenoids 13 , 14 , However, organic milk may contain less selenium and iodine than non-organic milk.

These are two minerals that are essential for health A review of 67 studies found that organic meat contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and slightly lower levels of saturated fats than conventional meat A higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been associated with many health benefits , including a reduced risk of heart disease.

While several studies find that organic foods can have significant positive outcomes, others have found insufficient evidence to recommend organic over conventional An observational study comparing the nutrient intakes of nearly 4, adults consuming either organic or conventional vegetables found conflicting results.

Although a slightly higher intake of certain nutrients was seen in the organic group, this was most likely due to higher overall vegetable consumption Another review of studies found a lack of strong evidence to conclude that organic foods are more nutritious than regular foods This is because the nutrient content of food depends on many factors, such as soil quality, weather conditions, and when the crops are harvested.

The composition of dairy products and meat can be affected by differences in animal genetics and animal breed, what the animals eat, the time of year, and the type of farm. The natural variations in the production and handling of foods make comparisons difficult.

Organically grown crops may have less nitrate and more of certain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Organic dairy products and meat may have more omega-3 fatty acids.

However, the evidence is mixed. Evidence suggests that consuming these foods may reduce your exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria In addition, pesticide residues were four times more likely to be found in non-organic crops 7.

It is important to note that the higher levels of cadmium and pesticide residue in conventionally grown produce were still well below safety limits However, some experts worry that cadmium can accumulate over time in the body, potentially causing harm.

Nevertheless, evidence suggests that the risk of exposure to pesticide residue in foods is small and unlikely to cause harm 24 , Choosing organic foods may reduce your exposure to toxins, pesticide residues, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

However, the levels of toxins in regular produce are generally well below the safety limits. For example, several lab studies found that their higher antioxidant content helped protect cells from damage. And animal studies show that organic diets may benefit growth, reproduction, and the immune system One study also reported that chickens fed an organic diet showed reduced weight gain and had stronger immune systems Older observational studies suggest that organic foods may lower risk of allergies and eczema in children and infants.

A large observational study of , women found no difference in cancer risk between people who never ate organic food and those who ate it regularly There is not enough strong evidence available to prove that eating organic provides health benefits over eating regular foods.

Some of these products are still highly processed foods high in calories , added sugar , salt , and added fats.

The IUPAC Blue Book on organic nomenclature specifically mentions urea [9] and oxalic acid. Mellitic acid , which contains no C-H bonds, is considered a possible organic substance in Martian soil.

A slightly broader definition of the organic compound includes all compounds bearing C-H or C-C bonds. This would still exclude urea. Moreover, this definition still leads to somewhat arbitrary divisions in sets of carbon-halogen compounds.

For example, CF 4 and CCl 4 would be considered by this rule to be "inorganic", whereas CHF 3 , CHCl 3 , and C 2 Cl 6 would be organic, though these compounds share many physical and chemical properties.

Organic compounds may be classified in a variety of ways. One major distinction is between natural and synthetic compounds. Organic compounds can also be classified or subdivided by the presence of heteroatoms , e. Another distinction, based on the size of organic compounds, distinguishes between small molecules and polymers.

Natural compounds refer to those that are produced by plants or animals. Many of these are still extracted from natural sources because they would be more expensive to produce artificially.

Examples include most sugars , some alkaloids and terpenoids , certain nutrients such as vitamin B 12 , and, in general, those natural products with large or stereoisometrically complicated molecules present in reasonable concentrations in living organisms.

Further compounds of prime importance in biochemistry are antigens , carbohydrates , enzymes , hormones , lipids and fatty acids , neurotransmitters , nucleic acids , proteins , peptides and amino acids , lectins , vitamins , and fats and oils.

Compounds that are prepared by reaction of other compounds are known as " synthetic ". Most polymers a category that includes all plastics and rubbers are organic synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds.

Many organic compounds—two examples are ethanol and insulin —are manufactured industrially using organisms such as bacteria and yeast. Many such biotechnology -engineered compounds did not previously exist in nature. A great number of more specialized databases exist for diverse branches of organic chemistry.

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Chemical compound with carbon-hydrogen bonds. Main article: Vitalism. Main article: Organic chemistry § compounds. Main article: Structure determination. Chemistry for Today: General, Organic, and Biochemistry.

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