Organic Food: What's the difference is it healthier?

1. Government statistics show that organically produced food is on average 10 to 30 percent more expensive than regular food. This is partly because organic food is produced and sold on a smaller scale. And partly because organic farming yields are often less than traditional farming.

1. Organic food therefore comes at a cost. Yet many people want to pay that difference because it would also be healthier.

1. But is that really the case?

1. And should you perhaps prefer certain organic products and opt for the normal variety for other foods?

2. And would you perhaps prefer to prefer certain organic products and opt for the normal variety for other foods?

1. First just to be clear: food that wants to receive the 'organic' quality mark must be produced completely naturally. No chemical pesticides or fertilizers should be used, and no unnatural additives should be added.

1. About organically produced meat we can mention that it is mainly produced in a more animal-friendly way and that the animals must have been fed mainly organically produced feed to meet the quality mark.

2. About organically produced meat we can mention that it is mainly produced in a more animal-friendly way and that the animals must have been fed largely organically produced feed to meet the quality mark.

1. For fruits and vegetables, there is one good reason they should be healthier: they do not contain residues from fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers.

1. Is this indeed a good reason to choose organic fruit or vegetables?

1. A study from Stanford University may provide some of the answer. In that study, the researchers compared the health effects of organic and traditional foods on the population.

1. Perhaps surprisingly, only a few differences were noticeable. It turned out that, contrary to popular belief, organic food does not contain more nutrients than traditionally produced food.

2. Amazingly perhaps, only a few differences were noticeable. It turned out that, contrary to popular belief, organic food does not contain more nutrients than traditionally produced food.

1. But there were some other positives for organic food. It turned out that people who ate organic meat were up to 33 percent less likely to be infected with antibiotic-resistant germs.

2. But there were some other positive points for organic food. It turned out that people who ate organic meat were up to 33 percent less likely to be infected with antibiotic-resistant germs.

1. A good reason to choose organically produced meat. For fruits and vegetables it turned out that 30 percent fewer pesticides were detected.

1. Although organic food can be better for your health (and our environment), it does weigh on your budget. However, to reduce your exposure to pesticides, you don't necessarily have to buy everything organic.

1. You can also try to make smart choices.

1. In a guide released this year by a working group on pesticide reduction, we find a list of fruits and vegetables classified according to how much pesticides they contain when produced in the traditional way.

1. For this, they compared 28,000 samples tested by the US Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.

1. On the basis of this list you can therefore make a well-considered choice whether it is interesting to choose the organic variant of a certain fruit or vegetable or whether it is not worthwhile.

Below we give you an overview:

1. Apples: 99 percent were found to contain pesticide residues and all together they contained the most pesticides of any fruit and vegetable studied.

2. Apples: 99 percent found to contain pesticide residues and, taken together, they contained the most pesticides of any fruit and vegetable studied.

1. Strawberries: Scored second in the ranking of pesticide residues and therefore better replace them with their organic variety.

1. Grapes: Contain up to 64 different chemicals and 15 kinds of pesticides on one grape!

1. Celery: Of all vegetables the most polluted, up to 13 different types of pesticides were found.

1. Peaches: Fifth in the pesticide rankings for this sweet treat.

1. Spinach: Second most polluted vegetable on the list.

1. Peppers: 15 different pesticides have been found on some peppers.

1. Cucumber: Ninth place on the list, so too high and this too should be replaced by the organic variety.

2. Cucumber: Ninth place on the list, so too high and this should also be replaced by the organic variety.

1. Potatoes: The average potato contains quite a lot of pesticides compared to other crops.

1. Cherry tomatoes: contain up to 13 different pesticides

1. Peppers: A place 12 on the list is not good enough, so better buy organic.

1. But the following fruits and vegetables were at the bottom of this ranking, meaning they had the least pesticide and residues.

1. You do not necessarily have to replace this with the organic version, so that your nutritional budget does not get out of control:

1. Asparagus, eggplant, onion, avocado, citrus, papaya, sauerkraut, kiwi, pineapple, mango, melon, sweet corn, peas, mushrooms and sweet potatoes.

1. For meat and poultry, you should always choose organic if you care about your health. Antibiotic resistance is no laughing matter and can have serious consequences if you become ill.

1. When it comes to fruit and vegetables, you don't always have to shop organically. If you want to protect yourself against pesticides, then choose organic for those fruits and vegetables that are known to contain a lot of pesticides. After all, it makes no difference in terms of the amount of vitamins or nutrients they contain.

1. Do you have any tips or additions to organic food?

1. Let me know!