The Annals of Internal Medicine publihed the study; Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives?: A Systematic ReviewTher research has been sited in various articles, including recently a USA Today article titled Pediatricians: Organic foods may not be better. The article came out on October 22nd.The conclusion of the research is quoted here:“The publihed literature lacks strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods. Consumption of organic foods may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”It concerns me that when newspapers like USA Today site the research, they imply that “healthier” and “more nutritious” are synonymous – completely ignoring the fact that nutrients in food have little to do with how many potentially dangerous pesticides and other chemicals may be in or on the food.Additionally, one of the more significant determining factors that determines the nutrient levels of food has to do with how long it takes to get the food from the farm to the table, and how it was transported. Yesterday I tweeted a quote from a great blog post put up by one of my favorites, Chris Kresser that reminds us “The average carrot has traveled 1,838 miles to reach your dinner table.” We need to remember that nutrients degrade quickly and if we want to find the most nutritious food we need to think like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, and look in our own “backyard” for the greatest rewards.While an apple a day (hopefully organic) may keep the doctor away...you still need to visit your dentist, so call Keith Gressell DDS today to schedule your appointment.