A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health
In recent years, organic agriculture has gained more popularity, yet its approach to food production and its potential impact on consumers’ health and various environmental aspects remain to be fully discovered. The goal of organic farming practices is to maintain soil health, sustain ecological sys...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/208 |
| _version_ | 1827369637177720832 |
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| author | Azizur Rahman Parnian Baharlouei Eleanor Hui Yan Koh Diana Gabby Pirvu Rameesha Rehmani Mateo Arcos Simron Puri |
| author_facet | Azizur Rahman Parnian Baharlouei Eleanor Hui Yan Koh Diana Gabby Pirvu Rameesha Rehmani Mateo Arcos Simron Puri |
| author_sort | Azizur Rahman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, organic agriculture has gained more popularity, yet its approach to food production and its potential impact on consumers’ health and various environmental aspects remain to be fully discovered. The goal of organic farming practices is to maintain soil health, sustain ecological systems, maintain fairness in its relationship with the environment and protect the environment in its entirety. Various health benefits have been associated with higher consumption of organic foods. This review identified some of these health benefits, including a reduction in obesity and body mass index (BMI), improvements in blood nutrient composition as well as reductions in maternal obesity and pregnancy-associated preeclampsia risks. Furthermore, organic food consumption can reduce the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and colorectal cancers. Upon reviewing the existing literature regarding the nutritional value of organic foods, it was found that organic food contained higher levels of iron, magnesium and vitamin C. However, the evidence available to draw definitive causations remains limited due to study biases, short study durations and confounding variables; thus, it cannot be concluded that the organic diet provides any related health benefits. In this review, we provided essential insights and statistical analysis from the evidence available and consider study limitations to evaluate the potential of organic food consumption in positively impacting human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:55:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e429934d9f0f4a349ddbacd8cd09e627 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:55:20Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-e429934d9f0f4a349ddbacd8cd09e6272024-01-29T13:51:52ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-01-0113220810.3390/foods13020208A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human HealthAzizur Rahman0Parnian Baharlouei1Eleanor Hui Yan Koh2Diana Gabby Pirvu3Rameesha Rehmani4Mateo Arcos5Simron Puri6Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Toronto, ONRamp at UTE, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, CanadaCentre for Climate Change Research, University of Toronto, ONRamp at UTE, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, CanadaCentre for Climate Change Research, University of Toronto, ONRamp at UTE, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, CanadaCentre for Climate Change Research, University of Toronto, ONRamp at UTE, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, CanadaCentre for Climate Change Research, University of Toronto, ONRamp at UTE, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, CanadaCentre for Climate Change Research, University of Toronto, ONRamp at UTE, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, CanadaCentre for Climate Change Research, University of Toronto, ONRamp at UTE, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, CanadaIn recent years, organic agriculture has gained more popularity, yet its approach to food production and its potential impact on consumers’ health and various environmental aspects remain to be fully discovered. The goal of organic farming practices is to maintain soil health, sustain ecological systems, maintain fairness in its relationship with the environment and protect the environment in its entirety. Various health benefits have been associated with higher consumption of organic foods. This review identified some of these health benefits, including a reduction in obesity and body mass index (BMI), improvements in blood nutrient composition as well as reductions in maternal obesity and pregnancy-associated preeclampsia risks. Furthermore, organic food consumption can reduce the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and colorectal cancers. Upon reviewing the existing literature regarding the nutritional value of organic foods, it was found that organic food contained higher levels of iron, magnesium and vitamin C. However, the evidence available to draw definitive causations remains limited due to study biases, short study durations and confounding variables; thus, it cannot be concluded that the organic diet provides any related health benefits. In this review, we provided essential insights and statistical analysis from the evidence available and consider study limitations to evaluate the potential of organic food consumption in positively impacting human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/208organic foodsfood safetyobesitycancerbiodiversityclimate change |
| spellingShingle | Azizur Rahman Parnian Baharlouei Eleanor Hui Yan Koh Diana Gabby Pirvu Rameesha Rehmani Mateo Arcos Simron Puri A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health Foods organic foods food safety obesity cancer biodiversity climate change |
| title | A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health |
| title_full | A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health |
| title_fullStr | A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health |
| title_short | A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health |
| title_sort | comprehensive analysis of organic food evaluating nutritional value and impact on human health |
| topic | organic foods food safety obesity cancer biodiversity climate change |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/208 |
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