Is Organic Food Really Better?

A new report published in the journal Science Advances suggests that, while there certainly are some benefits to choosing organic foods, there are also some drawbacks.

Researchers evaluated existing information about organic farming for criteria such as crop yield, impact on climate change, farmer livelihood, and consumer health. They found that the environmental benefits of organic farming are offset by lower crop yields, which are typically 19 to 25 percent lower than those produced through conventional farming methods.

Organic foods are grown without pesticidesand thats a good thingbut organic farms use more landand thats harmful to the planet overall. According to researchers, land conversion for agriculture leads to habitat loss and contributes to climate change.

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Sourced from: FOX News

A new arthritis treatmentsynthetic cartilage implantscould be life-changing for the growing number of people who suffer from joint pain and limited mobility. The implants, which are made from the same material as contact lenses, are already being used in some patients in Europe and the U.S.

Arthritis affects more than 54 million people in the United Statesmostly womenand synthetic cartilage could one day be a permanent solution, reducing the need for pain medication and other therapies that are ineffective for many patients.

So far, the implants have been used in knee and thumb joints in Europe, and big toe joints in the U.S. According to researchers, synthetic cartilage has been shown to reduce pain in 91 percent of patients and significantly improve mobility.

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Sourced from: NBC News

Beneficial bacteria may help reverse a cycle of inflammation found in certain inflammatory bowel diseases, researchers recently reported in the journal Nature Immunology. The most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohns and ulcerative colitis.

According to researchers, inflammation in the GI tract develops when an inhibitor called NLRP12 is not present. This inflammation then upsets the balance of bacteria in the digestive system further, leading to an abundance of harmful bacteria and lower levels of beneficial bacteria and creating even more inflammation. Adding beneficial bacteria back to the digestive tract can help end this cycleperhaps leading to a new treatment for IBD.

Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis often have a negative impact on quality of life and can increase colorectal cancer risk. Symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. Inflammatory bowel diseases are caused by an abnormal immune system reaction to food, bacteria, and other substances found in the intestines.

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Sourced from: ScienceDaily

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Is Organic Food Really Better? - HealthCentral.com