Health Benefits of Organic Tomatoes
By Michelle Fabio
The use of fertilizers has always been a controversial subject among gardeners, but now a recently published study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that organically grown tomatoes may actually be more nutritious than their conventionally grown counterparts—and the reason may be the lack of nitrogen in the soil.
Over a period of ten years, researchers at the
Among the unfertilized, or organically grown, tomatoes, the prevalence of the flavonoids was between 79% and 97% higher than in conventionally grown fruits.
This is because, researchers say, flavonoids are naturally produced in soil that is nitrogen-deficient; when such soil is fertilized with nitrogen, though, it doesn’t have the chance to generate flavonoids as a defense.
This research coincides with a number of recent studies both in the United States and Europe that have found organic foods to be more nutritional than conventionally grown types—other subjects have included peaches, apples, kiwis, milk, and even chicken.
On the other hand, experts such as a spokesman from the Food Standards Agency, says that this evidence still doesn’t necessarily mean that organic tomatoes are better for you.
Which side of the debate are you on?
