Organic vs. Local food: Which is best for your health?

Question

Which would you say in the long run is best for your health? It is extremely hard to find foods that are both organic and local, so I will probably end up with a mix, but which would you say is the best for improving your health? Based on the same diet, eating the same foods (example organic pear vs. local pear).

Answer 1

well, to be organic, they cant use chemical fertilizers, which basically means they fertilize it with animal crap.



local foods dont have any particular health benefit, they are just better for your local economy because you are helping to support local farmers with your purchase.



if you want the best of both worlds, grow a garden and fertilize it with crap.



trust me on this one...

Answer 2

It's a silly question - but the logical choice would be Organic



While organic food may not be the miracle cure some deluded people think it is, usually can depend on it to be free of pesticides and herbicides. But just because someone says it is organic, doesn't magically mean it is. People commit fraud in this respect every day.



Local food just means it was grown closer to you than food in another country - but there is no legal definition for the term "local food" it is just an advertising term used to hook consumers in. Different people define 'local' differently. Even in major cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco where there are no farms for miles around - they still sell "local food"



So local food has nothing whatsoever to do with the nutrition of the food in question.

Answer 3

Local produce is probably the best choice for your health and the environment, because produce is highest in nutrients when it's in season and hasn't had to travel great distances to get to you.

Just because local produce isn't labeled "organic" doesn't mean it isn't - it's just that most small farmers don't bother to pay to be able to label their food as USDA Organic.



However, the important thing is just to eat lots of fruit and vegetables in general. In the long run, it's not going to matter whether the pear you ate was local or organic or whatever - even a conventionally grown pear is better for you than say, a cheeseburger.

Answer 4

Organic foods are the best for your health because you'll be consuming less (if any) pesticide/herbicide residues. However, keep in mind that some fruits don't really need to be organic to be good for you (e.g., thick-peel fruits like oranges, honeydew melon, bananas). Local foods are also good for your health if you take indirect effects into consideration such as a less fossil fuels used to get the food from the farm to your kitchen (and thus, less pollution) and a better local economy.

Answer 5

I don't trust food that calls itself Organic. Its like a scam, overpriced foods, would prefer locally grown food because it helps the local people out

Answer 6

I would go for the local.

Answer 7

Farmers use manure regardless of whether or not it is conventional crops or crops using organic pesticides. Pick either conventional or organic produce. you won't go wrong.