Organic food is always our first choice. By USDA definition, organic food is non-genetic modified; most natural substances are allowed and most synthetic substances are prohibited (don’t be surprised that some synthetic pesticides are still allowed) in production.
Organic crops and health concerns
Organic plant food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.
Pesticides negatively affect male fertility
A recent study concludes exposure to pesticides used in agricultural production through diet may be sufficient to affect spermatogenesis in humans. In this study, high pesticide residue fruits and vegetables were associated with lower total sperm count, ejaculate volume, and percentage of morphologically normal sperm among men attending a fertility clinic.
Food safety and nutrition
Scientific studies widely agree that organic crops have fewer pesticide residues (both detected amounts and frequencies) than conventional. Although some researchers argued that the difference is not significant, and most conventional samples meet FDA allowance (only 1-3% violence, according to FDA report in 2000). The above study rings the alarm loudly, so choosing organic food when you can afford it is recommended.
Organic fertilizers used in organic crop production provide a more complex and complete nutrition matrix than synthetic fertilizers. Hence, organic plant foods provide higher levels of key nutrients.
In addition, organic means non-GMO, which is a safe choice since no complete long-term testing has been conducted on humans.
Organic animal source foods and health concerns
Implanted hormones are not associated with male fertility
Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Although the inverse influence of implanted hormones in red meat on male fertility is concerned, studies in both Europe and the United States showed unrelated results between male semen quality and implanted hormones in red meat.
Food safety and nutrition
Researches didn’t find significant differences in health-wise, between organic or conventional in both contaminants and nutrition, but both results are in favor of organic, as organic food sources for animals have a higher level of the key nutrients such as Omega-3s, B vitamins, and fewer contaminations.
Eating organic animal source food is optional, but it will certainly bring some benefits on better nutrition and slower accumulation of pesticides. At least, it’s not going to do any harm. We still recommend consuming organic animal source foods when it is financially possible.
Fish and shellfish do not have organic labels, but wild-caught are preferred as the antibiotics and other toxic chemicals are used in farmed fish and shellfish.
Sources of organic foods
Organic foods can be easily found almost in every grocery store national wide. My favorite place to shop for organic foods is Costco warehouses. However, the locations of Costco are limited. If you have any difficulty finding organic foods or are just too busy to go shopping, lots of supermarkets are now providing delivery services.