Green Eyes On: Obesity and Organics

Sara Snow
Living / Green Food
March 16, 2009

Photo via Flickr

Can obesity and diabetes be slowed or reversed by organics? Yes, according to a new study released by the Organic Center at the Natural Products Expo West. This may be one of the most exciting things to come out of the Expo, currently underway in Anaheim, California.In the name of full disclosure, I am a board member for the Organic Center, which is dedicated to converting agriculture to organic through credible, peer reviewed scientific information. And while, in the midst of a show where the headliners are fragrant biodynamic wines, creamy organic soups, and spicy multi-grain chips, this report lacks a little of the tummy rumbling, appetite wetting pizazz, it’s likely to be more important than a good percentage of the information coming from the show floor.

Photo via Flickr

Here’s how it works: According to compiled evidence from hundreds of studies, organic foods make you feel fuller, they help your body regulate blood sugars, lipids and so on, they greatly reduce your exposure to pesticides that may cause damage to your endocrine system, they slow aging, and they reduce the risk of inflammation diseases like arthritis and diabetes. These factors combined could mean less obesity and less diabetes.

So here’s to organic foods: for ourselves, our kids and our planet! Oh yeah, and for the expanding waistlines and overstuffed waiting rooms everywhere. May they rest in peace.

Download the full report here.

More on Organic FoodHealthy Foods Organic Recipes : Food & Health How to Go Green: Food & Health Brit Study Says Organic Grass-Eating Cows Give Healthiest Milk Organic Milk Really is Healthier Participate in the Milk Debate in the TreeHugger Forum Cage-Free Is All The Rage How to Green Your Meals Another Kind of Chicken CoopSara Snow is a green living expert and regular contributor to TreeHugger via her Green Eyes On column. She can also be seen on CNN.com on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Her new DVD Growing Green Babies is now available through SaraSnow.com.