Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
04/09/2012
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
Opting for a healthier diet is often the exchange of food for conventional organic. Between 1995 and 2005, the market for foods free of pesticides and other chemical additives saw its sales grow by 45% in rich countries - Brazil achieved similar rates over the past four years. The link between health and these products, subject of thousands of research, is disputed by Stanford University. Its researchers pored on 237 surveys, which they considered most relevant to the analysis. They concluded that organic food has no benefits other than those seen on conventional.
Among the studies were clinical trials for other dedicated to contamination levels of fruits and vegetables grown organically and conventionally. The results obtained with these two forms of agriculture had the same vitamin and nutrient content - just one, phosphorous, had significantly greater presence among organic. This advantage, however, was considered irrelevant, because few people have deficiency of this element.
In tests with milk, new tie between organic and conventional in relation to protein content. The Stanford team, however, does not rule out that organic has much higher levels of omega-3, a fat that the body does not produce, though it is essential for him.
- We were surprised to find that the organics are not always the most healthy and nutritious - Crystal Smith-Spangler admits, a researcher in the Division of Medicine Stanford, who published their results in the journal "Annals of Internal Medicine."
Crystal said that the survey is not against organic food. This option, for her, is still the best, but not be the healthiest. Other reasons can justify the purchase of these foods - the main one is the concern for the environment.
Brazilian contest result
The popularity of organic products can be measured in numbers. Between 1997 and 2011, the U.S. market for foods free of chemical additives saw sales rise from $ 3.6 billion to $ 24.4 billion annually. In Brazil, in 2010, the organic moved U.S. $ 680 million.
- These products account for less than 2% of the entire food market in the country, allowing ample room for growth - explains Lutero Couto, vice president of the Brazilian Association of Organic. - There are several studies that attempt to disqualify our products, financed by manufacturers of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, veterinary products. We can not forget the instability of biochemical interactions promoted by residues of genetically modified material, present in transgenics in our body.
Agroecology researcher at Embrapa Environment, João Carlos Canuto also has reservations to the Stanford study.
- This is a single survey. There are several results indicating different - remember. - Considering that this study was definitive, ie that organic does not represent gains to the body, it is still important to highlight the health problems caused by foods produced with pesticides, which alone would justify a choice for organic.
Crystal's team found no studies comparing the long run, what happens to those who feed exclusively with organic food and those who choose only the conventional diet.
Source: Extra Online
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.