June 26, 2025

Are organic vegetables healthier for you?

57 minutes

Melissa and Jam dive into the definition and implications of organic foods. They explore what organic means according to USDA standards, dissect common misconceptions about pesticide use, and discuss whether organic produce is actually healthier. This detailed analysis includes Melissa's scientific research process and draws on trusted sources to clarify the nuanced debate around organic foods. Learn about the importance of fruit and vegetable intake, regardless of whether they are organic, and get practical tips for washing produce to minimize pesticide residue.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:21 Discussing Organic Foods

00:46 Podcast Setup and Personal Anecdotes

01:41 Health and Diet Insights

04:12 Research and Credibility

07:59 Understanding Organic Standards

22:34 Organic Pesticides and Misconceptions

26:11 Scientific Pettiness and Review Articles

27:41 Engaging Media and Petty Scientists

29:19 Pesticide Residues in Organic vs. Non-Organic Foods

35:14 Nutritional Content of Organic Foods

38:44 Health Impacts and Misconceptions

43:47 Practical Advice and Final Thoughts

55:12 Listener Questions and Community Support

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References from this episode:

https://pmc-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/articles/PMC5837313/

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/colorectal-cancer-rising-younger-adultshttps://

www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htmhttps://

www.aap.org/en/patient-care/environmental-health/promoting-healthy-environments-for-children/food-safety/https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cen-v078n011.p011

https://pmc-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/articles/PMC7019963/#notes3

https://pmc-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/articles/PMC7146625/

https://pmc-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/articles/PMC7146577/

https://pmc-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/articles/PMC3546364/

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-158-4-201302190-00018

https://www.acs.org/education/chemmatters/past-issues/archive-2013-2014/genetic-organic-food.html

https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/programs/lawn-garden/agent-articles-fact-sheets-and-more/agent-articles/environment/organic-does-not-mean-pesticide-free.html

https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/pesticide-residue

https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1021/jf103902t

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By Melissa and Jam, Bleav

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