And now, new research suggests organic foods may reverse our country’s health misfortunes, like slowing the aging process and limiting pesticide exposure.

Here are some bullet points from the Organic Center’s report, Organic Food and a Healthier Future:

• Organic foods promote healthy patterns of cell division and differentiation, and lay the groundwork for normal endocrine system regulation of blood sugars, lipids, energy intake, and immune system functions.

• Establish and help sustain taste-based preferences in the child for familiar nutrient-dense, flavorful foods.

• Largely eliminate dietary exposures to approximately 180 pesticides known to disrupt the development or functioning of the endocrine system.

• Possibly helping to trigger or reinforce a sense of satiety, or fullness, thereby reducing excessive caloric intake.

• Lessening or limiting the cellular and genetic damage done by reactive oxygen species (so-called free radicals), and in this way reducing the risk of diabetes and other diseases rooted in inflammation (arthritis, cardiovascular disease) and rapid cell growth (cancer).

• Slowing, and perhaps even reversing certain neurological aspects of the aging process, leading to better memory and retention of cognitive skills.

Via TreeHugger.

In a new report entitled The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2009 published by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), the latest data reveals the strongest growth took place in Latin America and Africa.

Crops such as coffee, cocoa and tropical fruit increased by as much as 30% with the global organic market reaching an estimated $46 billion in 2007 and most of the products are being consumed in North America and Europe.

Popular foods in these markets include olives, nuts, grapes, cereals, salad crops and dairy products and for many of these items, specifically dairy, the demand was greater than local production, resulting in more imports and national imbalances between supply and demand.

Researchers can’t predict if the growth will continue, citing a dip in demand over the last 6 months—my guess is due to the slumping economy—but authors of the report state the number of ethically committed consumers who prefer local foods is encouraging.

Now, in our ever growing green world it makes sense that more people would make the switch to organic, especially since previous studies claim organic fruits and veggies may actually be more nutritious. Good thing, because a recent report claims centuries of modern farming practices in the United States have left locally grown produce less nutritious than crops harvested just 50 years ago; Time Magazine reports.

Via FoodNavigator.