I’m reproducing here word for word the article from the PickR blog, which I found very well written and concise. It’s all their work; thank you to them for this summary 😉

Eating organic food and reducing the risk of cancer

The study, published in October 2018, was conducted by four institutions—INRA, INSERM, Paris 13 University, and the French National Health Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie). It demonstrates a 25% reduction in cancer risk among regular consumers of organic food. While a single study cannot establish absolute truth on the subject, it nonetheless represents a significant advancement regarding the benefits of organic food and its role in reducing disease risk.

This research highlights two factors that could explain how regularly eating organic food significantly reduces the risk of cancer :

• Chemicals and pesticides are limited in organic food. Indeed, eating organic food reduces exposure to pesticides by almost 80%. Organic farming is governed by strict regulations. The levels of permitted chemicals are rigorously controlled to ensure they are compatible with the goal of better health for all.
• Indeed, the percentages of antioxidants, omega-3 and vitamin C, among others, are higher in organic products. For example, milk from organic farming contains 50% more omega-3 than conventional milk.

Eating organic food regularly may have a particularly protective effect against breast cancer, as well as against lymphoma for menopausal women. However, this 25% risk reduction applies to all types of cancer.

The League Against Cancer supports these analyses, recommending limiting contact with pesticides and chemicals. Indeed, these products have proven to be harmful to health, highlighting the benefits for consumers of switching to organic food.

Eating organic food would lead to a reduction in the risk of cancer and would also be a protective factor against certain chronic diseases.

Eating organic food and reducing the risk of chronic diseases

The boom in chronic diseases in recent decades has prompted specialists to examine the links that may exist between a healthy diet and the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, allergies, or cardiovascular diseases, for example.

Beyond recommendations for consuming sufficient quantities of fruits and vegetables, a growing number of studies are focusing on the benefits of new, healthier eating habits, such as the regular, even daily, consumption of organic food. The BioNutrinet study is evaluating the impact of an organic diet on chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Initial results indicate that eating organic food reduces the risk of chronic diseases .

To reinforce these claims, a Dutch study on children’s food consumption showed that a diet based on organic products substantially reduces the risk of allergies such as eczema. The nutrients found in organic dairy products, such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins, would explain this result.

These studies prove the benefits of organic food in reducing the risk of cancer and certain chronic diseases. But what about the issue of being overweight?

Eating organic food and reducing the risk of being overweight or obese

The BioNutrinet study, involving 62,000 volunteers, shows similar results after three years of follow-up, indicating a 30% reduction in the risk of becoming obese for regular consumers of organic products. To obtain these results, researchers compared two similar cohorts: individuals with a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables. The only difference was the production method: organic or conventional. One hypothesis put forward is that pesticide ingestion is a risk factor for overweight or obesity. Indeed, pesticides may facilitate fat storage in the body by acting as endocrine disruptors.

Eating organic food may have a positive impact on reducing the risk of being overweight or obese , so don’t deprive yourself of it!

To limit exposure to pesticides, the HCS (High Council for Health) recommends consuming organic food or food grown in one’s own garden. Furthermore, it has been shown that organic foods contain fewer heavy metals than conventional products: one more reason to eat organic to reduce the risk of disease !