Organic food 'better' for heart

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Organic fruit and vegetables may be better for you than conventionally grown crops, US research suggests. A ten-year study comparing organic tomatoes with standard produce found almost double the level of flavonoids - a type of antioxidant. Flavonoids have been shown to reduce high blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. Flavonoids are produced as a defence mechanism that can be triggered by nutrient deficiency, such as a lack of nitrogen in the soil. The inorganic nitrogen in conventional fertiliser is easily available to plants and so, the researchers suggests, the lower levels of flavonoids are probably caused by over-fertilisation. Flavonoids have also been linked with reduced rates of some types of cancer and dementia. The Food Standards Agency says there is some evidence that flavonoids can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and they are currently carrying out a study to look at the health benefits in more detail.

That's great, but it would be better if they would make the food more accessible to the average person. In the markets near me, organic food is nearly double the price of inorganic. The average person shopping on a budget (ie. the majority of people) just can't afford that.