By Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD If you haven’t heard, a
review study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found
that organic food isn’t any healthier than conventional. This
got me thinking about organic food and its benefits in our diet
— real and perceived. Like most nutrition trends, mistakes are
often made due to the “health halo” effect, meaning the benefits
get exaggerated. With this new study in mind, here are some
common mistakes people make when choosing organic. 1) Making
organic the yardstick for “healthy:” “Everything I make is
organic and from scratch” an acquaintance told me as she listed
off the comfort foods she provides for her family. She assumed
her meals are healthy because of the fresh, organic ingredients
she uses. But from the sound of it, she uses her fair share of
butter, high-fat meats, sugar, and cheese. One thing this review
study showed is that as far as nutrition goes (nutrients in
food), organic and conventional are virtually the same. Using
organic as the yardstick