| According to a new study published in the British | | | | benefits. The study was not able to definitively confirm |
| Journal of Nutrition, young children who consume | | | | whether the increased allergy, asthma, and eczema |
| organic dairy products exclusively are less likely to | | | | risks derived by consuming non-organic dairy products |
| develop asthma, allergies, or eczema by the time they | | | | was due to added toxins such as antibiotics and |
| reach two years of age. "This is the first example of a | | | | artificial growth hormones administered to livestock, |
| definite health impact of organic food consumption | | | | reduced levels of crucial nutrients such as omega-3 |
| being published in a peer-reviewed journal," said Carlo | | | | fatty acids in non-organic dairy products, a combination |
| Leifert, a researcher at the UK's Newcastle University, | | | | of both, or some other unknown factor. Further |
| who is conducting a similar study into the correlation | | | | research and testing will be necessary to precisely |
| between organic food and health. | | | | confirm the key difference between organic and |
| Researchers at the Louis Bolk Institute in the | | | | non-organic dairy products in relationship to these |
| Netherlands followed 2500 pregnant women through | | | | ailments. |
| their pregnancies and for approximately two years | | | | "Organic milk doesn't contain any pesticides, added |
| following the birth of their children. Information regarding | | | | hormones or antibiotics," explains Stuart Martin, |
| subjects' overall health, lifestyle choices, and dietary | | | | member of the Scottish Organic Milk Producers |
| habits were recorded during the course of the study. | | | | Association. "When an organic cow becomes sick our |
| The team found that the rate of allergies in children | | | | farmers are encouraged to treat is homeopathically |
| who exclusively consumed organic dairy products and | | | | first and only use antibiotics as a last resort. Meanwhile, |
| whose mothers consumed these foods while pregnant | | | | the milk from that cow is removed from the milk |
| or breastfeeding was nearly 40 percent lower than in | | | | stream and is not used at all." This general policy holds |
| children who consumed non-organic dairy products or | | | | true for organic milk and dairy producers all over the |
| a combination of organic and non-organic foods. | | | | world. |
| "There was a clear relationship between organic dairy | | | | There is as yet insufficient evidence to suggest that |
| use and less eczema," said lead study author Machteld | | | | children and pregnant women who consume an |
| Huber. "The difference was significant but only for | | | | exclusively organic diet - including whole foods like |
| children exclusively eating organic dairy products." | | | | fruits, grains, nuts, vegetables, and seeds - can claim |
| Huber added, "We didn't find a relationship if they had | | | | the same benefits as those revealed by the Bolk |
| [both] organic and conventional dairy products." | | | | Institute research, but several studies are ongoing. It is |
| While the researchers were able to make a strong | | | | clear, however, that significant proof exists to support |
| connection between organic dairy products and lower | | | | the notion that feeding very young children exclusively |
| risk of certain childhood ailments, there is still | | | | organic dairy products can substantially decrease their |
| uncertainty surrounding exactly what causes these | | | | risk of developing eczema, allergies, or asthma. |