The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Is organic food healthier?

    According to Claire Williamson, a nutrition scientist for the British Nutrition Foundation, “There appears to be a perception among many consumers that organic foods are more nutritious… However, to date there are limited data to support this view.”

    But, there are some exceptions.

    Vitamin C

    • Organic potatoes are richer sources of vitamin C than conventionally grown spuds.
    • 50% of studies report higher levels of vitamin C in organically produced vegetables (particularly leafy vegetables).
    • No studies report lower levels of vitamin C in organic potatoes or veggies.

    Dairy products

    • Higher levels of vitamin E and beta-carotene
    • No differences in calcium, zinc, vitamin B2 or vitamin B12
    • Higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to monounsaturated fatty acids
    • Higher levels of alpha-linolenic acid and conjugated linolenic acid

    The bottom line?
    This is all very interesting, but nutrition is not the main reason people buy organic foods. Consumers tend to be more concerned about the environment, pesticide levels, food additives, or animal welfare.

    6/20/07 11:21 JR

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