Eating Organic Fruits & Veggies To Help Lose Weight
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
“Organic” is a term that many people tend to automatically associate with nutritious fruits and veggies, improved health, a slim figure and easier weight loss. But is it truly helpful when it comes to losing weight?
Organic Foods & Weight Loss
Last year, a British Journal of Nutrition review found that these foods generally contain higher concentrations of antioxidants than conventionally-grown foods. According to the study’s co-author Charles Benbrook, a research professor at Washington State University, the higher nutrient content of organic fruit is due to their size. An organic apple is much smaller than your average supermarket apple, meaning it contains a higher concentration of antioxidants per ounce. The small size of this fruit is explained by the growing method: nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer is very expensive, which means that organic farmers can’t usually afford to over-fertilize their crops the way traditional farmers can. Nitrogen for plants is like calories for humans; with an abundant supply, size and weight increases.
Healthy weight loss tips from Scientific Director, Jerry Hickey, R. Ph!
So what does all this mean when it comes to weight loss?
Fruits and veggies are nutritious whether they are organic or not – but organic fruits have more healthy nutrients and significantly less empty calories per bite than typical over-fertilized fruits. In addition, research from The American Journal of Nutrition found that these fruits contain more healthy compounds like flavonols, which help control your appetite, and resveratrol, which can help you feel fuller for longer. The pesticides used on traditional farm grounds can reduce the resveratrol content in fruit, which in turn can impact your weight loss efforts. Although research shows no link between pesticide exposure and weight for adults, some studies show that if you eat conventional produce during your pregnancy or feed conventional produce to your child during his first two years, it may affect his future weight. Research from PLOS One and Environmental Health Perspectives have linked chemical pesticide exposure to increased body mass indexes in children.
It’s debatable whether eating organic produce can directly support your weight loss goals. However, healthy eating is essential in maintaining this healthy body and one thing is certain – more fruits and veggies won’t hurt!
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/health/will-going-organic-help-you-lose-weight-113789322762.html
