The New York Times, CNN, Time, and many other mainstream news organizations reported findings last week from the NutriNet-Santé Prospective Cohort Study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, that showed an average of 25 percent fewer cancer diagnoses among a group of 70,000 adult participants in France who ate more organic produce, dairy, meat and other products. Specifically, those who reported eating organic food most frequently had 76 percent fewer lymphoma diagnoses (with 86 percent fewer non-Hodgkins lymphomas) and 34 percent fewer post-menopausal breast cancer diagnoses.

The study set out to assess the association between an organic food–based diet (i.e., a diet less likely to contain pesticide residues) and cancer risk. Although this very large study strongly suggests that an organic-based diet could reduce cancer risk, more long-term studies are needed.

Bottom line: science is beginning to validate some of the benefits of organic food that many have long believed. More research is needed to define dietary recommendations for reducing cancer risks, but eating an organic-based diet seems to be a step in the right direction.

Since 1984, organic growing practices have been at the very heart of Earthbound Farm. Why? Because our mission is to cultivate a healthier world through organic food and farming. Our promise to you? All Organic. Always!

 

Interested in organic food but not sure where to start? We’ve got you.

President’s Cancer Panel Report 2010

New Research Calls for a Phase-Out of Organophosphate Pesticides

CHAMACOS Study Examines Pesticide Effects on Children’s Health

As time under organic management increases so do ecosystem services

Environmental benefits of organic improve over time