Don’t Panic, Go Organic

Why Choose Organic?

At Tide & Terrain, we choose organic because we believe health begins with what we consistently ask the body to process.

Every day, we are exposed to a complex mixture of chemicals through food, water, air, plastics, personal care products, cleaning products, and our wider environment. The body possesses remarkable systems for detoxification, repair, and self-regulation, but reducing unnecessary exposures may help lessen the burden placed on these systems and support overall health and resilience (Jiang et al., 2024).

One of the most consistently observed benefits of organic food consumption is reduced exposure to pesticide residues. Research shows that individuals consuming predominantly organic foods have lower levels of pesticide metabolites in their bodies compared with those consuming conventional diets, and studies have demonstrated that measurable pesticide exposure can decrease within days of switching to an organic diet (Benbrook, Kegley and Baker, 2021; Jiang et al., 2024).

This reduction in exposure is significant because many agricultural chemicals have been investigated for their potential effects on biological processes including oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular signalling, and hormone regulation (Benbrook, Kegley and Baker, 2021; Jiang et al., 2024). While regulatory agencies assess the safety of individual chemicals, researchers are increasingly interested in the cumulative impact of repeated low-dose exposure to multiple compounds over a lifetime. Organic food offers a practical way to reduce one source of this overall chemical burden (Jiang et al., 2024).

Of particular interest are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, commonly referred to as xenoestrogens. These compounds can mimic, block, or interfere with the body's natural hormones. They are found throughout modern life, including in certain pesticides, plastics, industrial chemicals, food packaging, and personal care products (Gore et al., 2015).

Hormones act as chemical messengers that help regulate metabolism, fertility, reproduction, mood, immune function, growth, and cellular activity. Because these systems are highly interconnected, researchers have raised concerns about the potential health implications of long-term exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds, even at relatively low levels (Gore et al., 2015). For many people, reducing exposure to these chemicals where practical is a sensible part of a broader wellness strategy.

The Endocrine Society's landmark scientific statement concluded that endocrine-disrupting chemicals are associated with a range of health concerns, including reproductive disorders, metabolic dysfunction, developmental effects, and hormone-related diseases (Gore et al., 2015). Choosing organic foods may help reduce dietary exposure to some of these compounds by lowering exposure to synthetic pesticide residues (Benbrook, Kegley and Baker, 2021).

Beyond their potential effects on hormonal health, some pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides have also been investigated for their potential role in cancer development. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization, has classified several agricultural chemicals as known, probable, or possible carcinogens, including glyphosate, which it classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A) (IARC, 2017). While scientific and regulatory debate continues regarding individual chemicals, concerns about cumulative exposure remain an important consideration. Choosing organic food is one way many consumers seek to reduce exposure to agricultural chemicals that have been investigated for their potential long-term health impacts (IARC, 2017; Benbrook, Kegley and Baker, 2021).

Organic crops have also been shown to contain higher concentrations of certain antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, which help protect cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals (Barański et al., 2014). Oxidative stress is increasingly recognised as an important contributor to ageing and many chronic health conditions, making dietary antioxidant intake an important component of long-term wellbeing.

Research has also found that organically grown crops generally contain lower levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that can accumulate within the body over time (Barański et al., 2014). Some reviews have additionally reported higher concentrations of selected nutrients, including vitamin C, iron, and magnesium, in organic foods, although nutrient differences can vary depending on growing conditions, crop variety, and other factors (Rahman et al., 2024).

Emerging research suggests that regular organic food consumption may be associated with favourable health outcomes, including lower rates of obesity, lower body mass index, and improvements in certain markers of metabolic health (Jiang et al., 2024; Rahman et al., 2024). Observational studies have also reported associations between organic food consumption and reduced incidence of metabolic syndrome, infertility, pre-eclampsia, allergic conditions, and certain cancers, although further research is required to establish causation (Vigar et al., 2020).

From a terrain perspective, choosing organic is not about pursuing perfection or avoiding every possible exposure. It is about creating conditions that support the body's natural capacity for balance and self-regulation. Small choices made consistently over time can have a cumulative impact. By reducing exposure to synthetic pesticides and other avoidable chemical stressors, while increasing the intake of antioxidant-rich whole foods, organic eating may help support long-term health, vitality, and resilience (Barański et al., 2014; Jiang et al., 2024).

Organic farming also provides environmental benefits through reduced reliance on synthetic pesticides and practices that support soil health and biodiversity. However, for many people, the primary reason for choosing organic remains personal health: reducing unnecessary chemical exposure and providing the body with the cleanest, most nourishing inputs possible (Benbrook, Kegley and Baker, 2021).

References

Barański, M., Średnicka-Tober, D., Volakakis, N., Seal, C., Sanderson, R., Stewart, G.B., Benbrook, C., Biavati, B., Markellou, E., Giotis, C. et al. (2014) ‘Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses’, British Journal of Nutrition, 112(5), pp. 794–811.

Benbrook, C., Kegley, S. and Baker, B. (2021) ‘Organic Farming Lessens Reliance on Pesticides and Promotes Public Health by Lowering Dietary Risks’, Agronomy, 11(7), p. 1266.

Gore, A.C., Chappell, V.A., Fenton, S.E., Flaws, J.A., Nadal, A., Prins, G.S., Toppari, J. and Zoeller, R.T. (2015) ‘EDC-2: The Endocrine Society's Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals’, Endocrine Reviews, 36(6), pp. E1–E150.

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2017) Some Organophosphate Insecticides and Herbicides. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 112. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Jiang, B., Pang, J., Li, J., Mi, L., Ru, D., Feng, J., Li, X., Zhao, A. and Cai, L. (2024) ‘The Effects of Organic Food on Human Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Population-Based Studies’, Nutrition Reviews, 82(9), pp. 1151–1175.

Rahman, A., Baharlouei, P., Koh, E.H.Y., Pirvu, D.G., Rehmani, R., Arcos, M. and Puri, S. (2024) ‘A Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Food: Evaluating Nutritional Value and Impact on Human Health’, Foods, 13(2), p. 208.

Vigar, V., Myers, S., Oliver, C., Arellano, J., Robinson, S. and Leifert, C. (2020) ‘A Systematic Review of Organic Versus Conventional Food Consumption: Is There a Measurable Benefit on Human Health?’, Nutrients, 12(1), p. 7.