When the prestigious Australian Government Analytical Laboratory finds vastly higher level of minerals in vegetables grown organically compared to those grown chemically, then that is hard evidence that organically-grown foods are nutritionally superior.
The Organic Retailers and Growers Association of Australia (ORGAA) conducted a study that compares six mineral levels of four vegetables. Samples of beans, tomatoes, capsicum and silverbeet (‘Spinach) were taken from both certified organic farm and supermarket chain and were sent to the government laboratories for analysis of calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron and zinc levels. See these results tabulated below.
On average the organically grown vegetables were 10 times higher in minerals than the supermarket samples. Some were higher and the zinc level in silverbeet was 228 times higher.
So how important are these higher levels of minerals? The Natural Health Society of Australia opinions that even on a good diet, low in junk foods, many people will not be getting sufficient minerals unless the foods are organically grown.
Plants require over 20 minerals, more than are supplied by chemical fertilisers. Artificial fertilisers tend to inhibit the uptake of other soils nutrients and the unbalanced nutrient supply can cause deficiencies, eg: increased potassium uptake can depress magnesium levels.
Beans
Minerals
|
Organic
|
Supermarket
|
Times Higher (NOT %)
|
Calcium
|
480
|
40
|
12.0
|
Potassium
|
1 900
|
260
|
7.3
|
Magnesium
|
240
|
26
|
10.0
|
Sodium
|
<10
|
<1
|
10.0
|
Iron
|
<5
|
0.6
|
8.3
|
Zinc
|
3.4
|
0.38
|
8.9
|
Tomatoes
Minerals
|
Organic
|
Supermarket
|
Times Higher (NOT %)
|
Calcium
|
67
|
6.7
|
10.0
|
Potassium
|
300
|
200
|
1.5
|
Magnesium
|
89
|
10
|
8.9
|
Sodium
|
2.6
|
2.4
|
1.1
|
Iron
|
<5
|
<0.5
|
10.0
|
Zinc
|
1.2
|
0.19
|
6.3
|
Capsicum
Minerals
|
Organic
|
Supermarket
|
Times Higher (NOT %)
|
Calcium
|
84
|
4.7
|
17.9
|
Potassium
|
1 600
|
150
|
10.7
|
Magnesium
|
700
|
11
|
63.6
|
Sodium
|
20
|
<1
|
20.0
|
Iron
|
<5
|
0.5
|
10.0
|
Zinc
|
2.5
|
0.13
|
19.2
|
Silverbeet
Minerals
|
Organic
|
Supermarket
|
Times Higher (NOT %)
|
Calcium
|
1 600
|
65
|
24.6
|
Potassium
|
2 600
|
450
|
5.8
|
Magnesium
|
1 700
|
69
|
24.6
|
Sodium
|
1 800
|
180
|
10.0
|
Iron
|
9.4
|
1.4
|
6.7
|
Zinc
|
130
|
0.57
|
228.0
|
Source: New Vegetarian and Natural Health Autumn 2000 Page34
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