Is organic food healthier than conventional food?

Getting the suggested amount of fruits and vegetables every day is more important than choosing those that are organic or conventionally farmed.

When it comes to long-term health, studies find that organic food exposes consumers to less pesticide residue.

People who eat the highest amount of organic food seem to have the fewest cases of a cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

People who are pregnant might benefit from eating organic food. Contact with pesticides may be linked to pregnancy complications and problems with fetal development.

People who eat recommended levels of vegetables, fruits and whole grains can limit their pesticide contact by choosing organic options.

Aside from lessened contact with pesticides, proven links between health and organic food are less clear.

People who buy organic food also tend to be more active, don't smoke and have a generally healthier diet pattern than the average. These traits are linked to having a lower risk of disease and fewer disease risk factors such as excess weight. So it's hard to say what specific role organic food plays.