Organic onions richer in flavonoids

Many studies have tried and failed to successfully prove whether organically grown foods are truly healthier then conventionally grown produce. A six year long study showed that onions grown organically consistently have ten to fifty percent more flavonoids then the conventionally grown onions, however, the difference in the amounts of flavoniods could have been caused by diffences in soil type, pest control or many other variables. Although higher in flavonoids, the studies still are inconclusive whether the higher amount makes the organically grown produce healthier then conventionally grown onions.

Key Takeaways:

• The team’s analysis attributed the flavonoid content increase in the organic onions primarily to the differences in soil management and pest control practices
• Rai points out that the study’s findings align with a major 2012 meta-analysis that found no nutritional differences between organic and conventional produce
• Pinning down whether the increase translates to real health benefits is difficult, however. “That’s the million-dollar question,” says Rai. Thunder Jalili, a nutritional scientist

"Consistently higher levels of individual flavonoids were also present in the organic onions, and the extracts had higher antioxidant activity in two assays that measure radical scavenging activity."

Read more: //cen.acs.org/articles/95/web/2017/06/Organic-onions-richer-flavonoids.html