The truth about organic food - according to science | Tim Spector

[@ambition112]

0:07: 🥦 Organic food has lower levels of pesticides and herbicides, and is less destructive to the environment. 5:23: ⚠ There is cause for concern about pesticides in food based on studies in rats and mice, as well as some human studies showing potential risks of weight gain and certain cancers. 10:37: 🍎 Long-term exposure to certain chemicals from pesticides may slightly increase the risk of certain cancers, but the overall health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks. 17:25: 🌱 Organic food has more nutrients and polyphenols compared to conventionally grown food due to the absence of pesticides and the presence of natural defense chemicals. 21:24: 🥦 Tim generally eats organic food, with 75% of his plant-based diet being organic, due to concerns about chemicals and the microbiome. 26:08: 🍓 The speaker discusses the risks of pesticides and herbicides in food and provides tips for reducing exposure. 35:11: 🍎 The discussion highlights the importance of transparency in food labeling and the need for more research on the microbiome and long-term effects. Recap by Tammy AI

[@Souldesouse]

Very kind of you Thank you 🌷

[@ClaraPeregrin]

Thank you so much!

[@diegoX6Turbo]

Thank you

[@stellagreengrass3732]

​@@Souldesouse❤thank you

[@JJ-jn7ei]

Thanks for 30 min back in mh life 😊

[@carol137]

I'm a pensioner, and I do buy organic where possible. I don't smoke or drink and I have no money left at the end of the month. But I believe, especially in todays climate, that if I get ill and go into hospital I won't survive because I have lost all faith in the NHS. So if organic is keeping me healthier then it's worth all my money each month.

[@janeforrest6838]

I’m 63 had to stop work few years ago due to a medical condition,I don’t drink don’t smoke don’t go to a gym or any expensive hobbies but I do eat organic even coffee I do eat grass fed meat and wild caught salmon I walk my dog daily and try to exercise.

[@emilyb5557]

Aww I'm a doctor on the NHS and feel so sad reading this 😢 but 100% understand why you feel that way. Still look after loads of patients well but definitely not to the standards we/I want. Hope you stay well either way 🙏

[@carol137]

@emilyb5557 It's nothing personal, and I know most of my senior friends feel the same. We don't feel valued as we get older and since Covid it's got worse. We know there are amazing doctors and nurses out there doing amazing jobs. You deserve all the rises you can get, but this feeling of being undervalued as a senior is prevalent I'm afraid.

[@carol137]

@janeforrest6838 Yes grass fed meat is imperative. I buy from Daylesford Organic farm. Thank you for your reply.

[@carol137]

@@ellanola6284 Absolutely. Thank you.

[@stephx9759]

I’m an insider and I see the laboratory results of imported foods and let me advise you, if you can afford organic foods, do buy these over their non-organic counterparts primarily for your own health and also for our environment. The amount of sampled foods is low (5-30% of every product that’s on the list) so a lot of foods slip in that are contaminated without ever getting checked at all. It’s an uphill battle that the authorities can’t win, foodproducers should limit the use but they have economic incentives and therefor will always use the maximum allowed amount (and often overdo it) of a specific pesticide and combine it with other pesticides for a cocktail. For example your oranges can contain as much as 15 different chemicals. The total amount of pesticides used is terrifying and there’s plenty of times food gets rejected/destroyed when imported into the EU because it’s over the maximum residual amounts, again that’s only 5-30% that gets checked so 95-70% passes through without being looked at. What’s even worse is that these pesticides never get tested on humans (unethical) for longterm effects, they only get tested on animals in the short-term. But instead they’re testing it on the consumers.. unethical?

[@debsgreen4519]

The moral of this story is not EAT ORGANIC but EAT BRITISH. Support your own farmers. The legislation is generally closely adhered to in the UK and the use of agrochemicals is closely monitored. More so than in some other countries. In fact, please someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the term ORGANIC can mean a very different thing when applied to imported food, compared to that grown in the UK which is closely monitored by the Soil Association.

[@sookibeulah9331]

@@debsgreen4519it depends on who is certifying the organic status. If it’s an EU or U.K. certifier then it’s the same status as U.K. produce. Though I do largely buy U.K. produce and as much as I can direct from farmers (milk, butter , meat) and grow a lot of my own veg there’s plenty of foods we cannot grow in the U.K. so have to buy imported.

[@k8eekatt]

My neighbor is an importer/exporter for Chinese products. He told us never eat food from China.

[@louisehibbert9768]

​@@k8eekattI certainly wouldn't buy anything not organic from China, but any organic produce should be getting randomly checked to ensure it meets EU/UK organic standards 🤞

[@barbararowley6077]

We’re very fortunate in Australia to be able to easily find locally grown food, and to easily grow fruit and vegetables at home. It really is the simplest way to control what goes into what ends up on your plate. I truly wish that was something more people were able to do, but such a large proportion of the world’s population don’t have the money/time/land/climate needed.

[@lisaglaze250]

One reason I buy organic bananas for example is not for me particularly as we peel them but for the workers on the plantations and their environment who are subjected to the horrific chemicals used in non organic production. I am lucky, I can afford the few pence extra and do my bit.

[@fratini.]

Yes, we peel the bananas, but the non-organic plantations mix chemicals and pesticides with the soil, making these byproducts go inside the fruits, so peeling them will not make a major difference.

[@airrunner85]

@@fratini. Read the china study - it does make a significant difference. Doesn't prevent exposure entirely, but in most cases, peeling fruit or taking the outer leaf of vegetables like a cabbage can be dramatic with exposure intake.

[@OstblockLatina]

And the plantation owner could save more money he would normally spend on the chemicals to increase his visits to casinos and massage parlors, while having his workers and their children still slave for a bowl of rice a day with no safety regulations concerning every other safety hazard in the plantation, while you re risking your health eating bananas that might be infected with noxious bacteria that would be killed by the aforementioned chemicals.

[@Sporting1210]

worker well-being is a valid reason..probably the only reason for organic banans considering how they get transported after the harvest aka there are no environment friendly bananas, if you dont live in a country, where they are commonly grown.

[@helenamcginty4920]

I was born 1948 and grew up washing apples before we peeled them. Oranges and lemons only arrived in winter as that is when Spanish citrus fruit is harvested. Bananas were mythical.

[@enidcronin9704]

I am on a budget being a pensioner and to buy organic would be usually beyond my pension. However if you can get to a supermarket at the end of the trading day they often have organic fruit and veg for great prices. I buy organic cucumbers for 40p. Organic celery 50p all sorts of fruit and veg get reduced. You can't be fussy as it is what will be binned at the end of the day but I find it lasts for days. Just check with your local supermarket when the reductions are done great value for money.

[@helenamcginty4920]

My grt grandmother did the same trick to buy meat. 4pm on a Saturday. This was, of course, in the days before mass refrigeration even in shops. My mum's generation had a small jar of yellow curry powder in the kitchen to use when the cheap meat was just beginning to smell. Washed in vinegar then well cooked and curried. Im 75 and still living 😄

[@BalajiUtla-mq6nu]

Why not grow what’s feasible to grow at home?

[@enidcronin9704]

I grow tomatoes but do not have a garden only pots

[@dreamydaze]

@@BalajiUtla-mq6nu I see the words where feasible. And I totally agree. Because this person says they are a pensioner. It doesn’t mean that they’re old or younger old or really old. So we all have different abilities we’re feasible to grow the food we need to eat. But remember for the northern half of North America, we can grow food for the winter and the spring and start the cycle once again. However, for the city or urban person or apartment, dweller, may not have the ability to can, freeze, the crops that they produce. And the fact that space is limited in many newer homes. So Mark gardens are good to buy what you need but those are very expensive. And community Gardens is a good choice. But what I’m trying to say is if we live in the northern hemisphere, we will need to can or blanch vegetables, and then freeze them as fast as we can, and have hopefully big chest freezer to store all these vegetables, etc.

[@mySeaPrince_]

I grow lettuce, spinach and chard.. I use as micro greens during summer.. Also consider growing seeds.. known as sprouts.. like you would grow mustard and cress to a couple of leaves, though I grow without soil or cotton wool.. Contain enzymes etc ... I grow mung beans (there are many others) and make sure there are no ungerminated seeds as they will break your teeth if you bite on them.. Another seed worth growing as sprouts is broccoli to two leaf stage .. they are very high in something (can't remember name) that is effective at damaging cancer cells. Electrolytes are something to be aware of as farm fields have been depleted of magnesium, potassium etc...

[@itsema91]

I started growing my own organic vegetables four years ago in my back garden (small footprint). One thing I very quickly realised is that managing pests and weeds in an organic way is very easy when you are working on a small scale but it is quite challenging to upscale. I can very easily handle bugs and slugs from 40 plants but I can't do this for a field. We need to realise that if we want organic food to feed a population and not just a small percentage of individuals who can afford the premium price, it is very likely that the population itself will need to be involved in the growing.

[@canterburyworkshop5631]

I, too, grow my own vegetables. Both my wife and I were very surprised to find the taste of our vegetables much more flavorful than store vegetables, even the organic ones. When you grow it yourself, you are much more careful taking care of the soil, the water, and the plants you use. And, we save a lot of money growing our own.

[@TermiteVideo]

It would be a good thing if we started to feed ourselves again

[@LongDefiant]

Capitalism doesn't invest in that way.

[@Bob_Adkins]

True, and it varies by area. In the deep South, it's almost impossible to grow organic crops. Fungi, pests, and weeds are far too vigorous to be controlled organically.

[@itsema91]

@@Bob_Adkins I don't think this is necessarily true. In hot climates the plants you are growing yourself will also grow more vigorously. In my experience unhappy plants that have suffered due to weather are way more susceptible to pests. We may just need to change the way we think about growing. Again, smaller footprint that can be managed and also rethinking the crops we grow. Use selective breeding to your advantage or grow primarily native crops or crops adapted to your local weather. Don't grow monocultures, do successive planting to avoid empty beds, take care of the soil. All these things make a huge difference.

[@jimmyjames8424]

Having had Non-Hodgkin lymphoma I now try to eat predominantly organic and i've found the following organic foods are reasonably priced, porridge oats. berries, potatoes, spinach, black beans, broccoli and liver. I also buy organic eggs from a local farmer. Due to budgeting it means when I do my food shop I have to visit three different shops but it is worth the effort and two good examples are organic black beans in Sainsbury's cost £1 per box & organic porridge oats in Aldi are £1.79. I do often wonder that I could be wasting my time but it helps me mentally to know i'm trying to be as healthy as I can🥊

[@miafrancis9539]

It is definitely worth the effort, the fact that you feel that the food you are putting in your body has a healing effect is so valuable in its self, wishing you great health and happiness for your future.

[@helenmurray6786]

Even if it wasn't doi ng you any good, it is certainly helping wildlife to eat organic. It's the main reason I eat organic because I didn't think it was worth it just for my health, but now I know better after this excellent talk

[@chrisb6296]

Carrots and bananas

[@hollythebordercollie2257]

NHL has been linked not just to glyphosate but also PVC

[@gooma27]

Stage 4 NHL here I switched to an organic mostly whole foods diet my cancer has been completely stable for the past 2 years. Before that I never ate organic, nor did I wash my produce I just presumed it had already been washed. I also used Glyphosate on my walkways and gardens. Clean living from here out.

[@georgeckalogridis1885]

I've been in Organics for over thirty years, as a farmer, wholesaler, processor and regulator. I will take issue with one statement that Organic produce degrades faster than conventional, leading to higher cost. Organic produce does not degrade faster, it does hold up quite well due to the thicker structure of the cell walls. Conventional produce has thinner cell walls due to the synthetic nitrogen used, Organic produce does grow somewhat slower, but not to any real detriment to production. One of the main culprits to higher cost of Organic produce is basic economics. It cost more to ship one pallet of produce than a full truck, more to ship one truck rather than a fleet of trucks, more to ship a feet of trucks than rail cars ...... Organic food represents about 5% of the total food supply, it simply lacks economies of scale. You can see that clearly where a large produce company has both conventional and Organic farms, the cost differential is negligible between their Organic and Non-organic brands, since all produce ships at the same rate. Are there any links to the meta-analyst on the effects of conventional and Organics produce on the human microbiome ? TKS for a great interview

[@Vgallo]

Great comment and great question, thank you. Although I’m not sure most people understand the term “ economies of scale”.

[@limitisillusion7]

Never thought about the economies of scale factor. I suppose I should start buying organic to grow the market and decrease the prices. My goal is to start growing everything I can in zone 6 and switch to organic tropical fruits that I can't grow. Then I displace the cost.

[@insightphoto]

@@Vgallo on the contrary, I think most people do understand 'economies of scale'. If you have a bigger market you can grow and sell more product and your overheads become a smaller percentage of your profits. But the problem is, the non-organic producers have a monopoly and have more influence through lobbyists and bigger budgets for advertising etc. Thus we are in the absurd situation where non-organic is considered the norm.

[@insightphoto]

@@limitisillusion7 I don't have a garden to grow my own but as I switched to more organic food I started to cook wholefoods again and also started to cook in batches for freezing. So my 75% organic food bill is not much more expensive than my old food bill with processed and instant non-organic

[@patrickyoung2106]

bot

[@ithacacomments4811]

I have been ridiculed for buying organic foods. I believe in supporting organic growers. I believe I am what I eat. I would rather eat less ....and be able to buy quality foods.

[@violetviolet888]

You actually spend less too, because you get full on less volume but more nutrient dense food.

[@sza2bom]

@@violetviolet888 bollocks

[@Tracertme]

Congratulations or grow your own.. it’s another form of exercise even in a flat on a balcony or window ledge. I just built 5 new veggie beds.. real hard work..done properly but those who want can buy them…. ❤

[@PenguinDynasty]

God bless you this is the way!

[@PenguinDynasty]

Its not bollocks i have lived it fisrthand . When i fell VERGE OF DEATH ILL the only thing that saved me was WHOLESOMR ORGANIC FOOD! WOULD HAVE DIED AS THE REGULAR FOODS MADE ME VIOLENTLY SICK!​@sza2bom

[@JenBerczely]

Here in New Zealand the fastest growing sector is 'spray free' food. More and more people here are growing their own and farmers markets are in most towns. By growing smaller quantities, growers can avoid using sprays and herbicides unlike monocrops grown by huge corporations. In order to get Organic status, growers have to spend a lot of money so many don't bother and just don't use these harmful chemicals. Trust is a big part of this of course. I'm in the process of reading Tim's book, Spoon Fed which confirms so much of what is going on in the food industry. Thanks Tim for seeing clearly.

[@Onoma314]

I was working on organic farms before the government decided they would start defining what " Organic " means. We had small tri-state organizations that would come out to certify you. Trust me, it was WAY different back then. That said, even back then, you could be as environmentally conscious as you wanted, but you could never stop the guy next to you from spraying his crops, nor could you stop his chemicals from ending up on your property

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

Look on the bright side. You would not get his weeds and bugs either. The spores don't tend to go that far. My neighbour on the other hand never tends to his garden and I have endless trouble with weeds on that side.

[@chriswalford4161]

What country?

[@hollythebordercollie2257]

Yes organic standards vary a lot - I have seen people saying US organic is similar to UK non-organic! Soil association standard is the highest of all so get that if possible

[@cb2ndjml]

Also, luckily for big American agribusiness, they were able to buy some very fine regulatory loopholes from their friends in Congress…

[@sandralymond2595]

T😢

[@purposefully.verbose]

I have an entirely sustainable 13,000 sq ft garden, and grow most of the vegetables my family eats in a year. it takes time, space, and effort - but if you've seen the garbage being sold at the grocery, then you'll understand it's worth the effort. I know everything that goes in and on my plants... even organic has loopholes, and your best bet is to feed yourself.

[@javierpachonalvarez5757]

What are the loopholes that you see in commercial organic? (To justify the time, space and effort of growing your own?)

[@anastasiailieva7800]

Do you weed it by hand? And how do you manage the invading insect population? Thanks in advance for a reply.

[@williamrbuchanan4153]

Well said,at least you know what some of your content is from. Things in your blood get the killer cell attention, build up is a tumour . The cells doing its desired effect, it not enough to stop, it has to dispose of the tumour. You have to contribute the ‘God given placebo effect’ . Mind over matter , is your only contribution. Cost you nothing , but believe in it. Miracles need a hand.

[@ZsuzsaKarolySmith]

Another issue is that most produce is seasonal - you get loads of them for a few weeks, then nothing for the rest of the year. How do you go around that? Not everything can be preserved or put in the freezer, like salad stuff, for example.

[@whowinshere]

@@anastasiailieva7800 Follow Charles Dowding, owns a no-dig market garden in Somerset, will tell you all you need to know and conducts his own trials. Have adapted to suit my own plot and never had such prolific tasty veg and all for a fraction of previous effort. My only expense has been ultra fine vegimesh (£26) which lasts for years.

[@lambsquartersfarm]

Important to note, that the smaller growers won't apply for organic labelling, simply because it is both costly and time consuming. Getting to know the grower, asking questions directly about their farming practices, and the ultimate test: can you visit the farm on a random day and have a walk in the rows of fruit and veg? If yes, you've got a good grower because they have nothing to hide (just be sure to load up on a nice purchase for taking up their time! :-). There are some practices and chemicals that are allowed under Organic certification that many growers NOT labelled organic would never think of doing. One example is hydroponics under plastic greenhouses (which create off-gassing and phthalate leeching), this is certified organic, and I might suggest are how some of those tomatoes are grown, Tim.

[@brucejensen3081]

A lot of farmers are using less inorganic stuff now compared to 40 years ago. It's gives short term gains, but wrecks long term productivity.

[@mjwilliamsb2676]

Also ask about their soil management - do they use chemical fertilisers, or no/very few chemical fertilisers but instead manures and composts added to the soil on a regular basis. The latter method is truly organic and ensures food grown in it will have higher nutrient content.

[@debsgreen4519]

@@mjwilliamsb2676 nitrogen is nitrogen is nitrogen regardless of the source. The difference is what else goes with it. Organic manures and composts are much more variable in the constituent parts. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but should be a consideration.

[@robertwilkes2105]

Hydroponics in France cannot be certified organic.

[@mjwilliamsb2676]

@@robertwilkes2105 I think that's right - growing in healthy soil is the best, hydroponics just involves lots of chemicals, no soil microbes.

[@AlsanPine]

now we need to research the effect of soil quality on organic food. i have worked to over 30yrs to develop the soil in my orchard/garden and i have certainly noticed the taste and robustness of my produce and it would make sense if the nutrition would also be elevated. there has been no chemicals on my land since i purchased it in the early 80's. as i produce most of what i eat and what i buy is always organic, i should have minimal chemicals in my system.

[@AlsanPine]

@@BT-dl8kq for what?! unless you want to spend many thousands of dollars on random chemical tests, you need to suspect likely ones to test for. not that much would show up after 30+yrs and this land was undeveloped before that and pristine with no industry anywhere near it.

[@Spangletiger]

I think that the reason that organic food contains more minerals than non-organic is down to the use of compost, rotted animal manures and, green manures which are incorporated into the soil. By increasing the organic matter in the soil, it is able to retain moisture and provide more favourable conditions for the micro organisms that aid the breaking down of rock material present in soil, to release the minerals that it contains. Having a better regulated moisture content also helps this process and also helps plants roots to absorb the minerals.

[@jegsthewegs]

That information was available at "CRANKS" in the 60's. I still use their recipe books and remember their advice.

[@Spangletiger]

@@jegsthewegs That makes sense! It was what I was told when I worked at an organic market garden. The owner would've known what she was talking about but she definitely had a Cranks cookbook! She tried an orange flavoured soup recipe on me one evening. I love oranges but, not in soup! If you have the recipe in your book, best tear out the page. It was ghastly!

[@debsgreen4519]

What you are talking about is the basis of what is now being referred to as regenerative farming. Read 'Entangled Life'. Very interesting. But don't fool yourself that this is restricted to organic farming. Any good farming practice should be geared to maximise this and I don't think it is directly related to the amount of nutrition in a plant. Good farming practice...however that is effected (conventional or organic) will lead to healthy plants that will resist disease and that is what ALL farmers want. They don't want to be buying expensive inputs if they could grow it more cheaply but equally effectively. In addition, there is something called nutrient dilution, where two plants might contain the same total amount but it is more diluted in one than it is in another because they have different overall amounts of biomass...it's more complicated than that, but I'm trying to simplify the principle.

[@limitisillusion7]

That is true, but it's a bit more complicated than that. The weed killers used on non-organic farms basically have the opposite effect of the compost... They diminish the diversity of microbes in the soil through a long food chain. When you remove half of that soil food chain, the nutrients that end up in the plants we eat have less nutrients. You don't even really need compost, you just need to not use weed killer. Compost will help return soil to its natural state faster though. There's a good video by Canadian Permaculture Legacy titled "A complete guide to soil microbiology" that will explain in detail.

[@debsgreen4519]

@@limitisillusion7 glyphosate certainly has a seriously negative effect on microflora and fauna, without a doubt, but that does not necessarily result in produce having less nutrients. These can be made available by further applications of micronutrients.

[@LuluBowenTarot]

I find it strange the difference in price between non and organic food in the UK, while in the France where I live the prices is nowhere near as scary.

[@fanfeck2844]

How do the prices of non organic compare with the U.K. Is one subsiding the other? I find it hard to believe they can be similar prices , when organic is generally smaller scale, and labour intensive

[@LuluBowenTarot]

@@fanfeck2844 I suspect it is because a very high percentage of french produce is bio *organic anyway & 75% of all farms in France are still family owned, and small to medium size. So the small scale and labour intensive you refer to anyway. I am open to correction but over 60% of these family owned farms are Bio (what organic is called in France) and have been for decades. Since they've always been organic, and are small producers not huge scale having to deal with large mono-culture, their costs are significantly less than British farms who have to convert. I know that swopping to organic, production initially drops for at least the first two to three years compared to intensive/pesticide type farming. Also, France has always had a culture of local markets, for these small producers. There is nothing artisan or trendy about them, they've been around forever. And the prices are only slightly higher than the supermarket because it is direct. Even huge cities have these weekly food markets. Add that the French farmers are VERY particular about food production, and have been for decades. Monsanto is banned - only country in the world I believe - Monsanto is the producer of the roundup/glyphosate that is mentioned in this video, and routine antibiotics of animals is also banned. Most of our cheese (85%) is raw, and I'd suggest from my experience where I live, in our supermarket over 50% of all produce is local. Of course we see exotic fruit and veg, but then they come mostly from French territories in the Caribbean who also are small scale farmers and non-gmo. **there is only one wheat strain that is GMO in France (not for public consumption but for animal feed), all other GMO seeds for large scale farm is also restricted. **It is my belief this is one of reasons our bread is so good, and also, people with gluten intolerance when visiting find they can eat french bread. So different setup to the UK production and route to market means the prices difference is minimal.

[@Rureal42]

Rip off Britain.

[@emilyhops2566]

I think its because we're a rip off country. Mainland Europe always seems to have cheaper, better food and water.

[@cachi-7878]

@23:42, I started eating organic more than 30 years ago now and 100% organic for the last 20 years. I don’t ever compare organic vs. conventional prices because it’s a moot point for me; I’m not going to buy conventional if I can help it. Price is not a criteria for me, but safety and quality are. In the US, there are entire supermarkets with exclusively organic produce, so the choice is easy. The variety is just as good as in conventional supermarkets and the quality is top notch. Typically Co-ops are the best and you can become a member for next to nothing and benefit as well as help your local store. Eating organic food just brings down a notch the level of contamination we bombard our bodies with. We are exposed to plenty of pollutants in the air and water we breathe, drink and bathe in daily. No need to add more if you can afford to.

[@littlevoice_11]

It is not certified organic, BUT homegrown fruit and vegetables are an affordable way to reduce pesticide and herbicide exposure. Lettuces, spinach, tomatoes, and beans are surprisingly easy to grow in a small area. You can even grow salads in pots on your windowsill or balcony if you don’t have a garden 😊

[@rachaelmartin5192]

Good point. We grow a limited amount of vegetables and freeze and can for the winter. I'd love to grow ALL of my family's produce. Hoping to get there before too long.

[@PopularesVox]

Good point, we all should be doing this, even if it is just some micro greens on a windowsill. People need to eat a more healthy diet.

[@SianaGearz]

I'd be concerned that the produce would be full of lead, but luckily we banned TEL fuel additive by now :D Though i still wonder what other contaminants specific to city could be in balcony grown produce and how harmful they are. Have there been any studies?

[@littlevoice_11]

@SianaGearz some studies suggest they are higher in vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants as grey are fresher. I'm unsure of pollution contamination though. But it's worth considering most large farmers fields are next to motorways.

[@gerritwillemvankeulen3907]

In the US , the word organic is hijacked, it needs a lawsuits of its meaning. Currently organic foods need to stay within its pesticide residue limits to qualify for organic food. Types of pesticides are insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, bacteria ides, fungicides and larvicides. Oregon Tilth, CCOF, One-cert, Quality certification services are a certifier for organic agriculture and products are the prime sources for what is organics.

[@karennash611]

I live in Norfolk this has always been a concern for me, especially at age 6 our daughter was diagnosed type 1 diabetic, then coeliac then milk/soya allergy... No history in the family, then 2 boys and and another girl all diagnosed type 1 along the same road, over the next few years, our house backed into a farmers field which was sprayed regularly without warning. The consultant found this very interesting but even though east Anglia has one if the highest rates of type one in children no studies have been done 🤷

[@floridanaturalfarming3367]

After eating strictly organic for two years I ate non organic western diet for 5 days because I was traveling After switching back to all organic I developed debilitating hives from almost everything I ate I realize now I needed to rebuild my gut microbiome slowly one or two additions of the more than 30 vegetables/fruits I eat/day🐸 Excellent podcast, unfortunately we need to worry about forever chemicals from the microplastic from the plastic mulch used on organic farms…ugh🐸thank you

[@sandranenadic4356]

I have a bad allergic reaction I became so sensitive eating organic food my skin is so sensitive, I have constant sneezing and and runny nose. I thought it was help I can’t tell no difference between organic I feel even worse

[@floridanaturalfarming3367]

@@sandranenadic4356I can tell a difference in my gut reacts but there are certain organic products I cannot consume, USDA organic hydroponic and USDA fresh tomatoes, they cause me to grind my teeth which I assume is due to the high amount of microplastics that studies have shown to be higher in fresh tomatoes🐸just have to grow our own🙏🏼

[@toriemmap]

I find all of this so overwhelming. We have hugely reduced our upf and also preservatives but the cost of organic is just not within reach for our family. This is very upsetting as a parent who genuinely wants the best diet and nutrition for my children. I really wish the government would be more proactive in making healthy foods accessible for all

[@FC-PeakVersatility]

Start by trying to cut out the worst produce (the dirty dozen) and buy organic according to your budget. The more people who do buy organic, and the more often they do so, the cheaper it will get

[@booswalia]

If you can't afford organic then eliminate processed foods. They are worse for you than the chemicals in non-organic produce. Just make sure you wash your produce well and try to stay away from the dirty dozen. I swear they're trying to kill us.

[@emilyb5557]

I was going to say the same - look for the dirty zone list and wash fruit n veg carefully. BUT know you're already giving your kids an amazing start by kicking UPF largely from diet. Also could you grow some veggies together as a fun fairly cheap activities. Often summer fayre will have local allotment teams selling seedlings or even quite big veggie plants for £1-3.

[@ZsuzsaKarolySmith]

Yes, organic produce should be subsidised more and we need tighter regulations about pesticides as well. Also packaging, some cans still contain BPA.

[@tangobayus]

Start growing some of your own food. Greens are a good start- lettuce, kale, chard, collards.

[@Chriswsm]

I just checked my favourite organic oat supplier and they say this on their website "At Flahavan’s we go over and above the IGAS code of practice, to ensure only the best-quality oats bear our name. We specifically prohibit the use of Glyphosate spraying at any stage of the growing of oats by our farmers." So they don't use the herbicide during the growing but there's no mention about harvesting practise. This is caused for concern. They could definitely be clearer about this.

[@debsgreen4519]

Glyphosate kills all plants...they wouldn't use it DURING the growing period because it would kill the crop. They may however, kill the crop off just prior to harvest for even ripening and ease of harvest and to prevent crop losses through premature shedding. You'd have to check to see if they did that.

[@mishaanton5436]

Excellent critical thinking skills!

[@leyniaLip]

What is the harvesting process, please, that is detrimental?

[@debsgreen4519]

@@leyniaLip I think what he might mean is that in some crops glyphosate (a complete plant killer, ie weeds and crops as it is not selective) can be sprayed prior to harvest to make harvest easier/possible. He's wondering if the comment that glyphosate is not used during the growing of the crop also means it isn't used at harvest. My point was that it could only be used at harvest (if it was going to be used at all) because otherwise it would kill the crop when you didn't want it to. For that reason I assume that in the instance cited that no glyphosate was used on the crop. I mean "At Flahavan’s we go over and above the IGAS code of practice, to ensure only the best-quality oats bear our name. We specifically prohibit the use of Glyphosate spraying at any stage of the growing of oats by our farmers." seems a ridiculous statement. It could only be used at the end of the crop's life as far as I can see.

[@leyniaLip]

@@debsgreen4519 Wow, thank you for taking the time to give me this education.

[@zoomby4380]

Aim to soak your veggies in cold water with a Table Spoon of white vinegar for at least one hour before steaming. Helps if you can't afford organic. We have an issue with rabbits and slugs eating our home grown vegetables. Potatoes and pumpkins are suitable...yet in winter the frost is an issue here in Hot Australia. 🇦🇺

[@MrGarymola]

No amount of exterior cleaning can help with the chemicals that get inside the produce.

[@survivormary1126]

Put down bowls of beer for the slugs and they crawl in and drown. Trap the rabbits and skin them and eat them, or drive them five miles away and let them out.

[@VOLightPortal]

You need to dry them first, then rinse with lukewarm water with bicarbonate of soda. Then steam for 24 hours. Then dry for the next 48 hours. Proceed to boil for another 24 hours. Then freeze dry for 7 days. Rinse and repeat 3 more times.

[@tazboy1934]

​@@VOLightPortalwen will i be able to eat?😂

[@bmniac]

@@tazboy1934 Perhaps an attempt at humour?

[@renailiades]

For me, it’s not an issue of budget, but rather accessibility. Very few choices of organic food, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.

[@AmandaJYoungs]

I love this! I have followed the Pesticides Action Network for years now and believe firmly that eating organic is best, whenever I can afford to (which means for me I don't buy everything organic e.g. if it is twice the price of non-organic). I am so glad that Tim said it's OK to eat non-organic if you're on a budget - because it's better to eat fruit and veggies (even if non-organic) than it is not to eat them because one cannot afford organic. I do not trust the food companies, trying to get us addicted to "food-like substances". I do not often trust governments about food either. But I do trust Zoe.

[@SimonCox-d6r]

Twice the price is very expensive.

[@AmandaJYoungs]

@@SimonCox-d6r It isn't always twice the price, but it is usually significantly more expensive and I did see something twice the price when I was shopping in the past week. It's ridiculous. Even so, there are only some things where the difference is one that my budget can afford, unfortunately.

[@sookibeulah9331]

@@AmandaJYoungsif you buy it direct from a farmer it won’t be twice the price.

[@CherylHillier]

We don't have much money coming in, but I would always prioritise healthy food, as having done a leaky gut diet to cure my daughter's eczema she would go red whenever I got it wrong, so I know without doubt what others only suspect; your health depends on what you eat. If we couldn't get organic potatoes for instance, we would eat something else, there's always organic veg box schemes, and the staples like rice are not that much more expensive. The things that I would NEVER eat if not organic are wheat, soya and dairy. See my recent comment. As the most intensively grown crops are undoubtedly the most contaminated, and as grown for quantity not quality, they lack nutrition; you might as well eat cardboard. There's a story in 'The Living Soil' by Eve Balfour where during the Haughley Experiment she found that caterpillars would demolish intensively grown cabbages with the implication that more would need to be consumed to find the micronutrients they needed as micronutrients were either missing or not there, I can't help thinking that we are inclined to consume more than we need to, because the micronutrients are missing in most of the food bought from supermarkets.

[@RoseEtheridge-w8t]

Tim’s talking about oats …. Flahavans organic oats are readily available in several supermarkets … just add your own choice of seeds, nuts and fruit for breakfast with organic milk and natural yoghurt

[@carol137]

I buy these oats they're delicious.

[@marcmcdonald48]

Plant based milk, hemp hearts & organic fruits garden grown in Wicklow.

[@Froglet1968]

Thank you both of you for such an interesting talk and to everyone who's commented. I started eating mostly organic on my eczema/allergy recovery journey, in my mid 20s. I had no idea that my skin health was affected by my gut health/diet and what I put on my skin. It made me more environmentally aware too. Also, packaging, I noticed how much plastic was used to cover/store food. I lived in a Buddhist centre for a couple of years and met such an array of people who were all trying to live more consciously. I don't have much money, but, I do prioritise my food choices and what I buy before most other things. I bought some kefir grains and make my own kefir (it tastes totally different to supermarket kefir.) My eczema cleared up, I lost weight (I'd been trying to!) When my eczema was at its worst, I was in hospital being covered with bandages/using a lot of steroidal cream. Life was miserable! I decided there and then I needed to radically change the way I ate and lived, so I did and I've been eczema free for many years now, on the whole. I can taste the difference between organic and non organic. I did a little experiment once with cauliflowers. I took one organic and one non organic cauliflower and after a few days the organic one starred changing and showing some brown patches. After a month, the non organic one was Exactly the same as it was when I bought it. Just do what you can to eat well, use less plastic (If we didn't buy it in the first place it wouldn't need recycling), I know it's probably easier said than done...but it's your one precious life and our one precious planet.

[@dotjeff4543]

My eczema also cleared up after switching almost exclusively to organic whole foods. Mine was as bad a yours at one point although I wasn’t hospitalized.

[@Froglet1968]

@@dotjeff4543 Just shows doesn't it?! Incredible! Thanks for sharing.

[@wildhorses6817]

Where do we buy kefir grains, high quality ? Thank you.

[@freedomruss]

Congratulations on healing yourself and giving your body the love and attention it deserves. Well done!

[@Froglet1968]

@@wildhorses6817 where are you based?

[@kimvannatter5214]

Just starting down the organic food research rabbit hole, I definitely appreciate this interview! I've often told friends that I know that there are stages and levels of healthy food choices, and the one that I'm currently at is generally avoiding processed foods/cooking from scratch. It's almost strange that my family hasn't gone the organic foods route considering our community. I figure there's a balance of priorities in life, and the juggle between high quality food and finances is real. I will level it up, but I think what that will look like is starting a garden, buying from locals for the rest (eggs etc) and finding economical sources for things like flour and oats. If y'all have some good resources on that last one I'd love to get some tips!

[@TermiteVideo]

‘Buy Wholefoods Online’ is a great UK company that has lots of options for staples like flour. All from small producers and always an organic option at very good prices.

[@robertalenrichter]

Here in Berlin, organic foods are often almost the same price as non-organic. This has been surprising me in recent years. It depends on the foodstuff.

[@thegadphly3275]

The AMISH in AMerica have been studied rigorously over the decades by the government. NONE of the reports are made public as a demonstration of comparison. Autism rates among the AMish are basically NONE> Cancer rates, super low, General lifespan, HIgh,,, not a great deal of argument other than that to make. Thanks for the notes and study report that we already know.

[@johnh9805]

Amish may live like they are from the 17th century, but in general they use a lot of chemicals and artificial fertilizers on their crops as needed.

[@elizamccroskey1708]

I would think that the Amish would just deny that autism exists. They have limited home schooling programs and are suspicious of outsiders, so it might be hard to separate autistic from normal Amish behavior. As far as cancer, because they don’t use “English” medicine much incidence of cancer is probably not reported.

[@louisehibbert9768]

The most valuable Zoe podcast so far 👍. I've just read an article about permission now being given for gene editing to make food sweeter and less bitter which, given this information about polyphenols by Tim, is also really worrying 😕

[@kengaskins5083]

Great information, gentlemen! In the US, the Dirty Dozen list of produce is published by the Environmental Working Group. Suggest anyone who has the land and time to try growing some of your own produce (you can also go the Community Garden route) I've had success in the past with tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, peas, garlic, scallions, berries (except for strawberries & blueberries which are more difficult where I'm at), bok choy, lettuce and spinach. I am in California,(SF Bay Area), so you have to figure out what works for you, including the variety. Nothing like fresh produce out of the garden!

[@javierpachonalvarez5757]

What makes home -grown organic healthier than commercial organic?

[@sylvasia8287]

Good for you. New England is too cold to grow anything outside from late October to mid April. Besides we have a lot of critters chew up vegetables and fruits before the harvest. In 1993, my mom used virgin urine from my three-year- old son. That's organic. I personally don't buy expensive organic products in the market because I don't trust anybody. I would rather buy produce locally grown.

[@Karincl7]

​@@javierpachonalvarez5757the country and the lack of rules

[@robertwilkes2105]

Shout out to Riverford Organics. They are an employee owned company. Excellent quality.

[@carolwestwood5559]

They're very close to where I live, so I do a regular shop there.

[@robertwilkes2105]

We lived for 2 yrs just North of Exeter and regularly ate at Wash Farm. Delicious food. Plus we got their weekly vege boxes.

[@AnnInghamlife-goals]

I get regular deliveries from Riverfront in Warrington

[@RichardNutman]

They sell the best tasting, and most ethically reared chickens too. Same for their eggs.

[@carolynwestlake7670]

I’ve been with Riverford for 11 years. So tasty food and an ethical company. ❤❤❤

[@laurajones6263]

Excellent episode, thank you. Makes it much easier to understand how to focus one's food budget most effectively. I'd love an episode looking at how eating home grown (without herbicides and pesticides, and with organic feeding techniques) affects things as well. So much fresher - different nutrients/polyphenols?? Something I try to do a lot of, subject to mollusc interference... Also, what about tap water versus the several kinds of water filters available. Do they really help? As someone who used to work in wildlife conservation doing extensive work into organic farming, it's really great to hear someone so well respected and influential singing the praises of organic food production.

[@debsgreen4519]

Some comments made in this video were rather naughty and misleading to viewers who are not scientifically trained to be objective. Mr Spector was on the whole fair about the fact that none of the studies showed a significant and definite detrimental effect of eating conventionally grown (ie not organic) food but the presenter was definitely highlighting his own bias towards organic food. It was what was NOT said that made it naughty. For example at no time was harvest interval mentioned when talking about 'burning off' (by which I mean, spraying off) crops with glyphosate. By law there is a minimum time between applying the spray and harvesting the crop; such that residues in the produce of harvest, when tested, would fall safely below the maximum legal limit. It was also not explained that varieties selected by organic growers will be different from the varieties grown by conventional farmers, so the observed increase in polyphenols will be more a function of choice of variety rather than lack of exogenous (externally applied) pesticides. I was rather horrified that Novichok nerve agent was mentioned in the same breath as agrochemicals, without the supplementary statement that this in NOT anything that would be used in agriculture. I am glad that Mr Spector mentioned that many of the studies were poorly designed as I have observed this first hand in many situations...if that's the case they should be dismissed to the waste bin! Please do not draw ANY conclusions from them as they can be very misleading. Also not a word was mentioned about fungitoxins. These are poisons that are naturally produced by fungi growing on crops that have not been kept free of disease...ie the function of fungicides and other cultural methods in a conventional farming situation. Whereas fungicides have gone through decades of testing before they get to the market place, fungitoxins on the other hand, go through no testing whatsoever. And where did ergot feature in the conversation? This is a fungus that grows in organic wheat crops and replaces the grain with a large sporing body...if eaten leads to madness and potentially, death. Fortunately it is larger than a wheat grain and can be sieved out before it is ground into flour for your bread, but it was probably responsible for a lot of the madness that consumed folk before the advent of modern farming techniques...it was organic. Please don't think I am knocking organic food...I'm just saying...understand what you are hearing, investigate, learn and don't take ANYTHING at face value.

[@debsgreen4519]

And if I didn't mention it already, I believe copper sulphate is still used on organic crops as a pesticide.

[@thehound9638]

​@@debsgreen4519I work in the food industry. I don't understand all the science talk because I'm not educated in that and it often goes over my head. However people do need to be realistic. The reason we don't have a famine every seven years or so is because we cheat nature by using chemicals, then there's the fact that there are now eight billion people on the planet and growing. Countries that are getting wealthier are seeing consumers demanding more meat which is harder to produce than the vegetables they used to live on. The Chinese eat a tremendous amount of meat now whereas not too long ago they mainly lived on rice and vegetables! We won't all be going back to organic food because it only takes one bad harvest to realise that it's more important to produce enough quantity of food, quality is secondary, and for the rich!

[@debsgreen4519]

@@thehound9638 I wonder how many people realise that it took 4.5 billion years to reach 1.6 billion people by 1920...and 100 years to reach 8.6 billion people in 2023! No wonder the planet is in a mess. AND the reason for that is...agriculture. If we still had nomadic tribes across the world we wouldn't have had the population explosion.

[@thehound9638]

@@debsgreen4519 Well that's true but I don't think we'd convince people to take a spear go back to the forest now. We have to deal the world as it is. The industrial revolution almost certainly caused the massive population boom because the demographics of the city was young during that time and away from their elders and parents these young people married much earlier than they did before. I suppose in some ways Britain is largely responsible, the cure for smallpox, penicillin, and the industrial revolution all contributed towards over population. However a forgotten Jewish chemist by the name of "Fritz Haber" discovered a way of putting nitrogen back into the soil and massively increasing yields.

[@Vscustomprinting]

@@thehound9638 you are full of shite, just fyi... I think "organic" is a worthless word.. try "veganic" .. Not only is it better for the environment, but it breaks down these pesticides and herbicides, You just arent paying attention to the people doing it a proficient and sustainable way.

[@lynnmacro3044]

Be aware of labelling - some fruits and vegetables, which have travelled long distances can be organically grown but are subjected to insecticide and fungicides to protect them in transit. These are usually labelled ‘organically grown’. In the U.K. this is often the case in items from such as Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.

[@chrisjones3901]

Thanks for the wording

[@rebeccasomerscales3156]

Yes organic food imported into NZ is irradiated and treated with chemicals to protect their flora and fauna.. there was a big uproar about that as NZ produces very little of it's own food relatively speaking. I could no longer sprout beans, lentils etc So biodiversity protection can also influence how food is treated at the border

[@camellia8625]

Good to know

[@itsjudystube7439]

D you have a source for this information.

[@violetviolet888]

This is NOT the case in the US. Coming from an organic certification farm inspector. Even the vehicles used for transportation can never have had produce with pesticides in them.

[@petesmitt]

2:40 he said round-up is used in organic food production to dry out the crops before harvest; he obviously meant to state non-organic food, but he also failed to state that this use of glyphosate chemicals to dry out crops, usually grains and legumes, just before harvest is actually off-label, ie, not how the manufacturer intended the product to be used and is extremely bad for human health, as high levels of the chemical remain on the food when consumed. This practice by farmers is called dessication and is grossly unethical, as the product is meant to be used as a weed-killer only and is only used this way by farmers to make harvest easier for them; it should be well publicised to the general public, basically naming and shaming farmers, as it appears governments won't act to make it illegal.

[@MysticOblong]

I'd never heard of this practice before when Tim mentioned oats can be dried out before harvesting with herbicides (dessication as I just discovered it is called thanks to your comment). Certainly has me wondering about the cheap bags of oats in supermarkets. I'm hoping here in Australia with our drier climate this approach is not used, although I need to find out more. And judging by your comment this might apply to other grains and legumes. Not good.

[@petesmitt]

@@MysticOblong Unfortunately, the practice is quite widespread, as it's so convenient for farmers to kill off the crop so it dries out nicely for harvesting; truly obscene, to be drenching food with herbicide in this way.

[@suegibson1907]

I loved this programme. I have been passionate about eating organic for probably twenty years. I have now got to the point where I am a fit and healthy 75 year old...I'd love to take part in a study to find out how my food has influenced my health, as I have believed for a long time that, you are what you eat. I have also done yoga since I was sixteen.

[@neilbennett9281]

Due to their sanctions the Cubans have been eating larger amounts of Organic foods and for longer periods than most, I understand. Surely they would make a more interesting case study than any other urbanised population.

[@mellD.7988]

Like any product, I believe the fruit and vegetables should also have listed the amount of pesticides. They are part of the ingredients after all.

[@mjwilliamsb2676]

Non organic fruit and veg are often sprayed with systemic insecticides as they grow, and that means the insecticide will be throughout the produce. Organic fruit and veg can be sprayed with contact insecticides, not systemic, and these only contain certain less risky chemicals, unlike the others, and can be washed off.

[@jackjhmc820]

in hong kong, we buy japanese sea shell powders ( high pH) and put quarter tea spoon into water to soak the fruits and vegetables for >15 mins. often the imported apples and grapes would have these rainbow colours glaze that appear on the water surface after soaking. works better than baking soda. Bought some cheap frozen Belgium raspberry in hong kong, and after soaking 3 times with shell powders, there were still these colour glazes on the water surfaces... i.e the pesticides. So some fruits absorb far more pesticides than others. I thought frozen fruits from EU would have fewer pesticides. i guess not.

[@JohnHall]

When I learned about the use of Roundup on oat crops at the end of the season, it started my switch to organic.

[@noodlemsable]

Did you switch to organic oats? I eat oats and have always eaten organic ones , I don’t want to give them up but not sure if I should be consuming them now 😩

[@JohnHall]

@@noodlemsable I'm focused on Bob's Red Mill organic currently, but it is hard to stay on top of not only the producers but adjacent farms as well.

[@TimLynchNZ]

I am astounded that this conversation is happening in 2023. I 'basically' was aware of most of this back in the 1980's. Your King, has his farm called Highgate and has been growing his food, all based on organics. That is one reason why longevity is pronounced in the Royal Family who live to an old age. The other is that they always use homeopathy. Here in NZ and also in Australia Government regulation for herbicides and herbicides is regrettably quite slack, especially around glyphosate use.. But good for you helping people and growing children know about eating healthy food and to live healthier lives.

[@sookibeulah9331]

At 2:43 Tim says Roundup is used on ORGANIC crops to desiccate before harvest. I’m sure this is an error and should be corrected. Roundup cannot be used in organic food production.

[@Tracertme]

Welcome onboard Tim, many of us have known and practiced this for decades. Even the taste is different and in my opinion better. Now think about this, imagine the difference you might make if you practice soil micro health very similar to what you do with gut bio health. You nourish the soil and the plants grow without impact from insects, removing pesticide treatment. Nature seldom attacks healthy plants. Your yield and quality go up. The mitochondria in your body are healthier as a result, extremely important in humans. ❤

[@cynthiarutkowski7532]

Having had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma I found this a very useful talk. I do occasionally buy organic but with the cost of food it can be a challenge.

[@JakeRichardsong]

The health problems caused by pesticides, herbicides, artificial fertilizers and antibiotics are what is costly.

[@SimonCox-d6r]

It's worth the extra . I eat less but better. Cost the same. I needed to loose weight

[@sookibeulah9331]

If you can buy organic direct from a farmer (veg box etc) it can be less expensive than buying organic from a retailer

[@bcvahsfam]

Consider having a garden.

[@paulyassin5562]

My Father succumbed to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma so this talk was very interesting to me. I will try my best to eat as much organic food as possible from now on.

[@canyoupleaserunfast]

I developped a serious IBS after a long course of antibiotics when I was misdiagnosed by a dentist. I used to be in so much pin from it, I couldn't go work. I ate really healthy plant based diet, ate lots of various foods, did therapy, looked after my mental health, the disease still persisted. Only when I switched to an organic riverfrord farm vegbox and organic meats, my ibs dissapeared and never came back. I still eat organic. Organic food is expensive, but if you're ill or missing work because of that that's even more expensive.

[@miketranfaglia3986]

My parents had a certified organic farm in the Northeastern US for many years, and I can say for sure that there is a long list of pesticides and other chemicals which are allowed to be used in "organic" produce. These are supposedly better and more naturally derived, but that's questionable (rotenone is a good example of something allowed but bad.) In the US, I think you're much better off with US-grown foods, as farming practices are much more tightly regulated. I'm sure the same is true for the EU. Imported meats and produce are always highly suspect; if you're eating fish from China, you're just asking for it. Prosciutto from Italy is great, though, so consider the source.

[@jill4667]

Soil Association accreditation in the UK is demanding to get, and trustworthy, surely?

[@wendyd8826]

We grow organics in New Zealand and we all know how relaxed the US Organic standards are. Ours are extremely strict and can only use a handful of sulfur sprays, lime, copper, seaweeds and bacteria. We have loads of residue tests too.

[@miketranfaglia3986]

@@wendyd8826 that's probably the way it ought to be, but it also limits what you can grow---not everything can be grown everywhere organically...

[@ZsuzsaKarolySmith]

Labelling should be more transparent globally. We need to know exactly how the produce was grown, transported, preserved or processed. Some form of pesticides will always be necessary as otherwise we might have famine on our hands - we need to develop pesticides that are not harmful to us and the environment.

[@lynnritchie231]

If you're eating animals, your diet is compromised already........

[@betseyspencer5370]

Not only oats, but wheat and soybeans are sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant just before harvest

[@picholoup]

My neighbour's is producing the organic food we eat. The bread I bake are from an organic farm where my son works, so I know it's ok, the apples and fruit like plums, pears and raisins, black currants, gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries grow in our garden. So I guess we eat healthy. The olive oil are from a Spanish organic farm that we visited several times, We live on the Spanish border in southern France. Milk, cheese and meat ( which we eat only every other week, like the trout of our mountain stream where no other villages are located upstream) come from another neighbours farm...yes it's more expensive but we consider as far as our food is concerned quality goes before quantity.

[@bladdnun3016]

Slight correction: Pesticide is just an umbrella term for chemicals (or sometimes microorganisms) that are deployed to protect (in this context) plants from diseases. This includes insecticides, but also herbicides, fungicides and many others (though herbicides are sometimes used to destroy the leaves of a crop instead of those of a weed, in which case they are not technically used as pesticides).

[@sarahbarton2089]

Today I asked a 'good' butcher for marrow bones from Organic beef to make bone broth. He laughed at me (rude) and asked how could he know what the neighbouring farmer was spraying, that the wind could carry. Humph.

[@debsgreen4519]

Just shows his ignorance. Find a new butcher.

[@SuzanneU]

The butcher might not have bern laughing at you - it could have been a displacement laugh at the situation. It's happened that farmers who were following organic protocols were sued when traces of pesticides were found in the food. Their crops or animals had berm contaminated by spray from neighbouring farms.

[@DrDavidThor]

@@SuzanneU kind of cool how the word "berm" crept in there instead of "been." It's almost like your deeper self understood how to solve the problem.

[@bogdang.7627]

I have great respect for all organic farmers 👏 This must translate into their character and personality as well as their attitude towards nature

[@brucejensen3081]

Tomatoes for me too. To the point i only really eat what i grow. Taste so much better

[@rekhaneilsonoptionprocessm5634]

Question. If plants are so effected by the fertilisers etc is there are multiplied effect in meat, milk and cheese etc?

[@shus5787]

Great video, I eat organic and agree with what you say,the more people who eat organic the cheaper they should get for all of us.

[@debsgreen4519]

Not really...organic food production yields considerably less, and please do not believe that a fraction of what you pay actually gets back to the farmer, unless you are buying from him directly.

[@Caperhere]

I don’t think they’ll get cheaper. I think the labelling will just get less responsible. In the US and Canada, glyphosate and other pollutants are growing super weeds and super pests. The “ experiment “ failed from the beginning, but they’ve just increased amounts of varied pesticides and herbicides, until some areas have been denied applications to increase them. About 95% of corn in the US is glyphosate, and it is in everything 36:53 . If you go back to some of the health records of Cambodia during the Vietnam years, you’ll find lots of cancers in areas where defoliants were sprayed. Here in Nova Scotia, crown land is harvested by the pulp and paper industry. They spray forest areas where they want the softwoods. Rather than hire people to select and harvest their softwoods, they spray to kill all the hardwoods from the air so it’s easy and cheap to get to the softwoods.

[@debsgreen4519]

@@Caperhere that sounds very sad.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

@@debsgreen4519 Don't talk yields or you;ll upset the permaculture brigade...🤣 Any comment on nitrate runoff compared to 'the old days' when we used manures, guano, etc. (yes, I know the population and yields are different). If we could have scaled 'natural' fertilizer usage to allow for today's yields would we not have a similar run off problem?

[@LoremIpsum1970]

If the demand's there and more land was given over to organic farming, then it would be down to what the margins were compared to non-organic farming. Maybe economies of scale doesn't apply to organic farming, and that's why it hasn't taken off. It's all down to the money. It may only ever be affordable for middle-class Guardian readers...

[@Annique]

I have heard many conflicting narratives about organic, with some dieticians claiming the risks are too low to mind much, but I also believe there is more beyond the immediate risks and benefit to myself alone; the consumer impulse I am sending, the vote I am casting with my euro's. I already happen to buy many things organic because in my country they are often synonymous with more environmentally conscious ag practices, fairtrade and better care for animals (coffee, chocolate, eggs, yoghurt and cheese are some of the things I want 100% organic), but I was never too picky about produce. Now in summer I like to support my farming neighbors, and most of them don't spray their produce, so that's good, but it gets trickier in winter when I don't have this wealth of organic produce within a stroll's distance. My small village doesn't have many offerings in the conventional supermarkets, but hopefully the march towards more organic purchases will be an impulse to the market, just like the demand for plant based foods has been. I am on a fixed income though, so I have to be smart, keep my eye on offers, and buy produce with a low per-kilo price, even if it's mostly rustic stuff.

[@JenniferMackerras]

Oats - I recommend Pimhill Farm oats. They have been organic for decades, are family-run, and you can shop online. I buy in bulk and it’s both reasonably priced and high quality.

[@jiros00]

I work in shipping and use to work in shipping of grain. I'm going to say something many of you don't want to hear. Organic grain is lower quality than non-organic grain. It's not because it's organic or anything like that but that organic farmers can get away with selling grain that would be otherwise be rejected for reseeding or for use as animal feed (or for biofuels). So it can be good quality but it just isn't in general. I'm not talking about the pesticide effects or nutrients but other aspects. It doesn't have the same elasticity for example. I am not disagreeing with this gentleman but want to raise there are more aspects to consider.

[@alisonhughes2164]

Growing some of your own is an excellent way of getting organic fruit and vegetables and with modern no-dig methods not as hard work as it used to be.

[@shawnlewis1918]

From what I understand which I found REALLY interesting is that a pests job is to consume vegetables and fruits that are not healthy for the most part, in other words they lack the sufficient nutrients due to poor soil conditions so pesticides are necessary to save the produce growing. In an organic environment, the soils are prepped for maximum nutrients in the grown produce making them more defensive against pests therefore pesticides aren't necessary for these organic crops because pests are not attracted as they are in the more malnourished crops.

[@BaneTrogdor]

I buy organic oats for a long time already.. Oats are not expensive and that's obviously a worthy investment ..

[@grannygear1001]

I am allergic to glyphosate, (& a lot of food additives, like MSG, natural flavors,) the herbicide/insecticide in RoundUp weed killer. So I have to really watch what I eat and buy from small farms and sources I trust! I mostly eat organic, which is tough on the budget.

[@PanamaLiveGoodonaFarm]

Good interview. So happy i left society & live on my own farm growing my food.

[@susanrollings9906]

I had lymphoma and i was an organic farmer for years.

[@leyniaLip]

It sounds like you are okay now. I hope so.

[@kimthom5793]

Thank goodness i took note of the benefits of organics decades ago. Always loved reading about good food 30/40yrs ago. I believe I've lived the best way i can. Transparency is even worse nowadays and there is so much fake news out there.

[@tootstweet]

Interesting comment about benefits of washing fruit and veg with some bicarbonate

[@rednarok]

love how at the end of the show you mention the team. so many youtubers never mention the ones working behind the scenes.

[@fatbikejamie]

"Pesticides" is an umbrella term for any product that eliminates pests: herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, etc are *all* pesticides.

[@LetsBeHealthy_]

As a health-conscious Doctor, I've always wondered if organic food truly lives up to the hype. This video goes beyond the marketing buzz and delves into the scientific aspects of organic farming and its potential impact on our health and the environment.

[@livechangechallenge]

I grow a lot of my own veg, would you recommend that I buy organic seeds or is it enough that I grown my food in an organic way is enough?

[@evanhadkins5532]

There are two things. Genetically modified plants means being reliant on companies - but the nutrients can be the same. Treatment with pesticides can lead to chemicals in our bodies even if the seeds aren't modified.

[@lynnmacro3044]

I witness locally, farmers growing cauliflowers, without protection from insects, but having absolutely no damage from caterpillars. Nearby, on my allotment, we cannot grow brassicas without fine netting or there’ll be nothing to harvest. I can verify that the farmers crop is not sprayed after planting, as I pass through his field almost every day. There must be something strong in those seeds! Also in between crops they grow potatoes which never have destruction by badgers, while ours are severely damaged! It’s frightening.

[@Rose_Ou]

Oats absorb 30% more glyphosate than wheat so I always buy organic grains, coffee and greens.

[@sheilahenderson5973]

Thank you so much for this. I used to eat nearly all organic but can no longer afford it. I will now look out for frozen and tinned organic as a way of being able to afford it once again 🤗

[@derek68able]

I have been an advocate of organic foods for 60 years, our loss of biodiversity is largely due to chemical farming, also no mention of the cocktail effect, where more than a single herbicides and pesticide are found in products. Organic farming better for you better for the planet.

[@iancantrill5961]

I totally agree that organic is far healthier. You probably should have included the fact that it is not totally chemical free. Certain chemical pesticides are allowed. I think the risks from these is very low though. I don’t know what proportion of organic farmers are totally chemical free if any.

[@trevorjenkins1976]

Another problem is how do we trust food supplier's that we are buying organic food, we have no proof, only the words that are written on the product's.

[@kellylosasso1126]

A broader discussion on organic food prices would be very helpful. My overall food costs are way down, 25-30%. When you make this lifestyle choice to eat for health, including very rarely eating out, and most of your meals are prepared at home, I am spending much less. Entertain at home, $15 bottle of wine vs $9 per glass. Using the whole plant, beets roasted in the oven and beet tops for your salad greens. A can of chickpeas is 1.79 organic and I can make a roasted crunchy salad toppings or snack or my own hummus, etc, etc... The key for me was to make this lifestyle my new hobby. I want to gather, prep then eat for my hobby. It's enjoyable, I feel good and I can help others along the way! A win, win, win!

[@violetviolet888]

People don't realize that eating organic IS cheaper because the food is more nutrient dense and fills you up.

[@TurtleMoonTube]

Pesticides is the general term that includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc. Also, there are some "organic" pesticides.

[@lindavestal8139]

I would like to see your views on the use of aPeel on produce including some organic produce as a preservative to extend their shelf life.

[@Stephen-sr2pb]

We currently have a food surplus of around 20%. Conventional farming is around twice as productive per area of land. If we were to revert to organic around the world there would be wide spread starvation and eventually destruction of a lot of the remaining forest areas to increase production. This is not a simple issue. It is complex with a lot of trade offs. Furthermore people are, after all, living longer and heathier than at any time in history eating conventionally farmed, non organic food.

[@jkgermany2182]

Thanks, mostly supports what I do anyway 😉 but I overlooked oats ... until now. As others mentioned we can avoid relying on labels by getting to know some small farmers who might not pay for the label and sell us great food at an affordable price.

[@doug11127]

I was enjoying my Oatabix this morning when I heard that oats are particularly bad for herbicides etc. 🙁 won’t be getting them anymore

[@freiheit8573]

I studied interactions of pesticides (herbicides+fungicides+pesticides) years ago. Safety studies are only done on single substance effects and then they are safe up to supraphysiological doses. But when you combine them (this is what is usually done), they can add or even have a true synergism and have a 10000x in toxicity.

[@gillianlawrence9715]

Organic food direct from the farms (at a market or in a veg box) isn’t expensive - can be cheaper than supermarkets

[@susanchristian1665]

It's also important to remember that in organic farming fertilisers feed the soil, whereas in non-organic fertilisers feed the plant, which inevitably eventually leads to a degredation of the soil. And all life on earth depends on a healthy soil.

[@enjek5654]

Nonsense.

[@susanchristian1665]

@@enjek5654 Thanks for your opinion, with which I disagree.

[@enjek5654]

@@susanchristian1665 Disagreeing doesn’t change the facts.

[@susanchristian1665]

@@enjek5654 Whatever.

[@enjek5654]

@@susanchristian1665 Indeed. Just made up nonsensical claims and rejection of being challenged.

[@fryertuck6496]

I haven't eaten a vegetable ir a carb in almost 4yrs. Never felt better in my life, had arthritis, gone, had life long constipation, gas and bloat; gone. Better endurance when training, calmer by a country mile. Best way to improve your health is to drop the veg and carbs, life changing.

[@PopularesVox]

Good to see Tim Spector talking about this important topic. Having lived in the countryside and seen what is sprayed on the land, it was a major incentive to start growing my own food and buying organic when I could. However, this is nothing compared to what is going on in countries like China and India, where insecticides and herbicides has absolutely devastated ecology let alone what they are doing to the populations. Some days ago it was reported that as the result of chemical industry lobbying, the EU is likely to drop a ban of hazardous chemicals.

[@mishaanton5436]

Lobbying in US is just a backdoor payment to politicians to vote a certain way.

[@patrickyoung2106]

bot

[@liz4935]

Extensive usage of post harvest fungicide on citrus sold in the UK, to increase storage time for transport, though at least this is labelled . This likely impacts gut mycobiome (fungal microbiome) as well as driving antifungal resistance in human pathogens. I try to use organic citrus if consuming the skin/ putting in drinks, but I think we need more consumer pressure to make fruit which has not been treated after harvest widely available, like it is in France.

[@icysurfer1]

I grow 4 kinds of Organic Tomatoes, in organic soil in cheap plastic grow bags. Some plants are 6.5 feet tall (2 meters). They taste otherworldly sweet. Some not even like Tomatoes. I use General Organics Bio-Thrive Liquid fertilizers, every other watering, and CalMag supplement lightly. Don't forget to adjust the pH of the feed water...!!!

[@KenJackson_US]

Plastic?

[@emilyb5557]

I'm growing some too. But how many toms do you get in a season off a plant? I don't get enough to keep me in toms for summer even w multiple plants

[@llprice2000]

I took a test for glyphosate with a group studying Ag. Chemicals. I had a high rate of residue compared to the others. My spouse, who eats a different breakfast, had only a "trace." I learned that my brand of oats was likely being sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant just before harvest. I switched to a Co-op organic oats and sent a new sample to the lab one year later. The second time I received a report showing "trace." Beans, a recommended food, are also sprayed. I only eat organic seeds and grains now.

[@greenknitter]

"...but I can afford it." And therein lies the problem. The good doctor and many others of his socio economic status can afford it while millions have to eat sub optimal food. Everyone should have access to organic food, when good food is so essential to good health, quality of life and longevity. I have a back yard where I grow some veg, but the single most important goal in my life is to have a larger garden where I can be more self sufficent in organic fruit and veg, and give excess to my neighbours.

[@richardmiddleton7770]

I think you get more nutrients from organic foods so you don't need to eat as much of them to get the same benefits.

[@greenknitter]

@@richardmiddleton7770 I think so too Richard. Makes sense when the growing medium in organics is rich in nutrients and organic matter in the form of natural fertilisers like green manures, compost, rotted manures etc, instead of just spraying NPK. There are so many other nutrients plants need to be optimum health and nutritional value as I learned in a horticulture course, and you can be sure conventional farming will not be bothered for cost reasons with putting more than is absolutely necessary on crops just to grow them big and look good on supermarket shelves, as they talked about. More inputs- less profit. Some nutrients are provided by the soil, but if the soil is not rich and fertile crops will not be of optimum health or nutritional value. I used to buy conventional celery but then I saw the visible difference in the darker stalks of organic celery so I knew there had to be reasons why. My course plant science module led me to understand more about plant requirements and from then on I vowed to buy or grow organic as much as possible. The plants containing more antioxidants makes logical sense too when they have to prime their chemical defences against everything that wants to eat them. Great that science is now validating what many of us who grow organically knew or intuitively felt all along.

[@DrDavidThor]

You're rich if you have a back yard. You're in a socio-economic bracket where you can afford that. Not everyone is so lucky. But yes, given that you are that wealthy, you're doing the very best thing with your fortune.

[@javierpachonalvarez5757]

Would you say that home-grown organic is healthier than commercial organic?

[@greenknitter]

@@javierpachonalvarez5757 If they both follow strict organic standards of no synthetic inputs then there should be no difference really, but I think in the US not all synthetic inputs are disallowed even in organic, so in that case home grown I would say if you follow the more strict EU certification standards. Also depends on the growing conditions though-weather, where it's grown, soil etc. Soil in particular should be rich in organic matter.

[@janineharris-wheatley3057]

My mother died of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the 1980s. It systemically affected her lymphatic system with cancer tumours developing in her lymph glands. Living in the Prairies in Canada where agriculture is big business, I was aware even then that grain farmers had higher rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Now I currently know three people in my circle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. None of them are farmers but do gardening and/or furniture stripping and refinishing.

[@georgewigglesworth1644]

Another, what I think is a very, very important reason, to go for organic, is for a healthier environment. Since in the last 20 years we have seen a decrease by 60% in the number of insects, I think we are facing an environmental disaster. Organic must be so much better.

[@maryannehibbard5686]

Thank you for teaching what is more healthy and doable, without radical directives and scare tactics! As you described it - strawberries are problematic, but an occasional use can be allowed and even enjoyed. Balanced, therefore for helpful presentations!

[@dharma6481]

I’m almost 60. A few years ago I thought I was becoming sensitive to gluten. I read up on it and switched to organic wheat and einkorn and started baking at home. Turns out I was sensitive to all the herbicides/pesticides/preservative etc…because my stomach issues cleared up. (I’m in the US) Now I buy mostly organic (I always bought certain things organic: strawberries, potatoes, leafy greens. But I really leveled up.

[@violetviolet888]

A common result of going organic.

[@popmilic6007]

Not a word about eggs, meet and dairy. These chemicals tend to be concetrated in animals so consuming non-organic milk may offset everything one achieves by buying organic fruits and veggies

[@irkendragon]

Fertilizers that leach into the environment and produce things like algal blooms are also used in Organic production. Whether it's a natural fertilizer or synthetic as far as I'm aware it has the same effects. So fertilizer runoff doesn't change much whether you eat Organic or not. It's just wrong to tell people that Organic label means no Fertilizer and no pesticides, I don't know why Tim didn't correct the interviewer on that. It usually just means they use different types of fertilizer/pesticide. Aside from that these small limited studies with their subtle results don't really compel me to go out of my way to buy organic. it's so hard to control literally every factor of a person's life to make sure the only difference in their genetics, lifestyle and upbringing is whether they eat organic or not. Still seems like the most important thing for health is what you eat (getting enough fruits, veggies, less processed foods, less sugar) over how it was produced. I think for me the deciding factor then would be which production method is best for the environment? I've always heard organic takes up way more land, which reduces space for natural ecosystems, which worries me, especially if organic production is increasing. But insect killing pesticides are obviously bad for the environment as well. But organic uses pesticides as well, just different kinds, and I don't know if those are worse for the environment or not compared to the conventional ones.

[@wendyd8826]

Your assumption is incorrect. We grow organics and can only use fertilisers like lime, gypsum, rock phosphate, compost, fish oil, and mycorrhizal fungi or graze with organic stock. These are non leaching methods, particularly when you take into account the small amounts we are allowed to use. The organic fertilisers we use are only allowed when there is a deficiency and we must prove it with soil or plant tests.

[@violetviolet888]

@irkendragon False. Natural fertilizers are made from organic materials, such as manure, compost, and fish meal. They release nutrients slowly over time, which helps to build soil health and support beneficial microbes. Natural fertilizers can also help to improve water retention and reduce erosion. Synthetic fertilizers are made from chemicals that are not found in nature and contaminate for decades. They release nutrients quickly, which can lead to nutrient imbalances in the soil. Synthetic fertilizers can also harm beneficial microbes and pollute waterways. Other synthetic fertilizers, such as phosphorus fertilizers, can take much longer to break down, sometimes years or even decades.. Synthetic fertilizers can contaminate the environment in a number of ways: • Runoff: When it rains, synthetic fertilizers can wash off of fields and into waterways. This can lead to algal blooms, which can harm fish and other aquatic life. • Leaching: Synthetic fertilizers can also leach into groundwater. This can contaminate drinking water and make it unsafe to drink. • Atmospheric emissions: When synthetic fertilizers are applied to fields, they can release ammonia into the air. Ammonia can contribute to smog and acid rain.

[@susanshardlow1881]

Hodmedod website is worth looking at for British grown oats and pulses, wrinkled peas are good and I have grown them in my veg garden. Pea shoots are a good all year crop too, even in a window box.

[@icysurfer1]

Great talk. 900 good reasons to eat organic. If it is more expensive, just don;t waste any. Cook it all up at once and put in the fridge. One thing: Organic Food almost ALWAYS tastes 40% better.

[@HearturMind]

The studies done on Whole Foods Store products that showed GMO, Pesticides and Herbicides and chemicals and radiation in a significant percentage of their food and similar Canadian studies showing same thing with their supposed organic brands, is why many people that actually look into these things do not trust these labels. Plus the fact that foods grown and packed or frozen or canned at the site of growth showing lowest levels of chemicals is also why some people trust those products more. Much appreciate any discussion drilling down on and offering clarity on these questions!