Dr. Georgianna Donadio
Whole Person Health Care - NIWH
 
The work of Dr. Georgianna Donadio DC, MSc, PhD has touched the lives of millions of people worldwide. For more than 35 years, she has been educating the healthcare community, as well as her patients, students and the public…
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LOCATION: Wellesley Hills, MA, USA
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  • Certified by Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to teach courses in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, philosophy and related whole health courses.
  • Massachusetts Nursing Association Nurse Advocate
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YEARS IN PRACTICE: 37
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Rutgers University Study: Organic vs. Non-Organically Grown Produce
8
Posted in Nutrition by Dr. Georgianna Donadio on Aug 16, 2012
Scientists at Rutgers University set-out several years ago to specifically disprove any claim that organic produce was more nutritious than non-organic produce. The study used commercially grown produce from supermarkets and organically grown produce from health food stores. The main focus was to analyze the mineral content of the various vegetables and compare them for nutrition value.

The term “commercial” refers to produce which is grown using a variety of chemicals that either destroys plant pests or chemicals that can enhance plant growth. A number of these chemicals are known carcinogens and are also toxic to the soil and environment.

While the researchers in the study were open to finding an outcome that might show a very slightly higher content in the organic produce than in the commercial produce, which they thought would be due to the chemicals used to grow the commercial plants, the outcomes of the study shocked the researchers! When they saw that the amount of iron found in the commercial spinach was 97% higher than in the non-organic spinach and that manganese was 99% higher in the organic over the commercial, they were truly amazed. In the commercially grown vegetables many trace elements were completely absent compared to the organic produce where they were abundant.

Here are some comparisons from the study:

Snap Beans:
- Snap Beans org = 10.45 phosphorus compared to 4.04 in commercial
- Snap Beans org = .36 magnesium compared to .22 in commercial
- Snap Beans org = 227 boron compared to 10 in commercial
- Snap Beans org = 69 iron compared to 3 in commercial

Cabbage:
- Cabbage org = 10.38 phosphorus compared to 6.12 in commercial
- Cabbage org = .38 magnesium compared to .18 in commercial
- Cabbage org = 94 boron compared to 20 in commercial
- Cabbage org = 48 iron compared to .04 in commercial

Lettuce:
- Lettuce org = 24.48 phosphorus compared to 7.01 in commercial
- Lettuce org = .43 magnesium compared to .22 in commercial
- Lettuce org = 516 boron compared to 9 in commercial
- Lettuce org = 60 iron compared to 3 in commercial

Tomatoes:
- Tomatoes org = 14.2 phosphorus compared to 7.01 in commercial
- Tomatoes org = .35 magnesium compared to .16 in commercial
- Tomatoes org = 1938 boron compared to 1 commercial
- Tomatoes org = 53 iron compared to 0 in commercial

Spinach:
- Spinach org = 28.56 phosphorus compared to 12.38 in commercial
- Spinach org = .52 magnesium compared to .27 in commercial
- Spinach org = 1584 compared to 49 in commercial
- Spinach org = 32 iron compared to .3 in commercial

Here’s a shocking outcome of this study – in all 5 of the tested vegetables: snap beans, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes and spinach the organic vegetables, all contained healthy levels of cobalt, an essential trace mineral compared to the commercial vegetables which contain none.

There indeed appears to be a difference between organic and commercially grown produce. For more information go to: http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/robson/All%20about%20Organic.pdf

- Dr. Georgianna Donadio

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8
My second comment. At the age of 64 I am the healthiest person that I know at my age group, NO pharmaceutical drugs at all.
This is due to my extreme attention to details of the pollutants that we are all exposed to everyday of our lives. There is as in this article corporations that are buying expertise to sell there goods. It is MUCH less expensive to put out a inferior product in mass production, it is all about money. Nothing but scams on the general public. You can eat just as cheaply buying whole natural foods as you can buying junk. You will find that when you eat all natural, you will consume less due to the vitamin/mineral content of the food you eat. Processed food is the worst offender, eat only what is natural and you will live a long and healthy life. Laziness in our society is making the healthcare business thrive. Cook your own natural food at home and stay away from the fast food.packed garbage, it will keep you out of the hospital.
By richardef  Aug 21, 2012
7
I am very disturbed by this article, you missed the entire point along with the incomplete study. It is like most studies, they are designed to hide the actual truth and usually paid for by the industry. The MAIN issue with Organic vs regular commercial is that your are eating synthetic pesticides with commercial grown. These pesticides are what is causing diseases of all sorts. I don't see where in the study that it shows the measurement of synthetic pesticides on the commercial grow product? The whole point of this study overlooked, most likely by design the main issue of what the problem really is. Show me a study of how much pesticide can be measured after cleaning both Organic and non Organic, then you have a study that has meaning. Pesticides and Hormones are killing the population. Organic is worth every penny especially if you grow your own like I do.
By richardef  Aug 21, 2012
6
I'd love to be able to afford for my family to eat all organic veggies but...being a first-responder my paycheck can't support a $6 tomatoes and $20 cabbages
By jake4  Aug 21, 2012
5
Let's try one more time. Enter on the address bar
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/bear

and then continue with no space or punctuation
report/misquotes.asp
By painfree123  Aug 20, 2012
4
The unexpurgated email address to the Rutgers disclaimer is
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/bearr... .
By painfree123  Aug 20, 2012
3
Dr. Donofrio's post is apparently passing on a complete misquote of the study which has no basis in fact. Rutgers realized that was happening and issued a disclaimer which can be viewed at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/bearr... . There may be benefits to eating organic vs, conventional vegetables, but Dr. Donofrio should be more cautious about selecting the information which she presents. Shame on her.
By painfree123  Aug 20, 2012
2
I wish you would define "organic" produce the same way you defined "commercial" produce. And I believe your article needs a good editing. In this part of a sentence, "When they saw that the amount of iron found in the commercial spinach was 97% higher than in the non-organic spinach," don't you mean "When they saw that the amount of iron found in the organic spinach was 97% higher . . . ?"
By Beesley  Aug 19, 2012
1
Interesting Article. The Main point about Organic is Safety, although it's not surprising that manufactured commercial chemicals to kill bugs and plant disease will also affect Nutritional Content.

There was an article on the news just the other day. They found a huge flock of birds dead in a field. They determined that the Farmer's Pesticides killed the birds. What a horrible way to die. And the Farmer was not available for comment, of course. And that chemical goes into our Food Supply!

Organic is about SAFETY. Safety to Animals & Environment, to Us & our Food Supply.

Spinach & Lettuce are on the EWG's Top 10 List of the "Dirty Dozen."
By amelah  Aug 18, 2012
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