Blood test that can detect ovarian cancer 'may save lives and stop women having unnecessary surgery' to spot the killer disease

A blood test that can detect ovarian cancer could spare thousands of women from unnecessary surgery, researchers hope.

• Women with ovarian cysts endure surgery to help doctors spot any tumours 
• For every one cancer that is detected, five women are operated on
• Blood test identifies 11 proteins that are higher in women with ovarian cancer 

By ALEXANDRA THOMPSON SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 16:16 BST, 20 June 2019 | UPDATED: 19:50 BST, 20 June 2019

Women with ovarian cysts or cancer symptoms, such as bloating, are often forced to go under the knife to help doctors spot any tumours.

Researchers claim that for every one cancer case that is detected, five women are operated on, putting them at risk of pain, infection and blood loss. 

The new test, developed by scientists in Sweden, searches the blood for 11 proteins that are higher in women with malignant ovarian masses.

Charities say further trials are needed to confirm the test is accurate, saying it would represent 'a major breakthrough' if it is.

Researchers at Uppsala University, behind the test, hope it could one day be used as part of a routine ovarian cancer screening programme. 

Early detection of ovarian cancer is considered to be the 'holy grail', and scientists around the world are trying to find an effective method.

+1

A blood test that detects ovarian cancer could save women from unnecessary surgery (stock)

'Our results are promising enough to consider screening for early discovery of ovarian cancer,' lead author Professor Ulf Gyllensten said.

'In Sweden, we have long experience of screening for cervical cancer. I see great prospects of developing a strategy for screening for ovarian cancer as well.'

He said such a programme could 'save lives and minimise the need for surgery to rule out cancer'.

The blood test was tried on plasma samples taken from 90 women with the disease and 79 without. It was then repeated three times.

It compared circulating levels of 593 proteins between women with ovarian cancer, benign tumours or no sign of the disease. 

Results found the test distinguished between women with the disease and those without up to 93 per cent of the time.

The researchers, writing in the journal Communications Biology, found quantities of 11 proteins were higher in patients with cancer. 

Results revealed it had a sensitivity of 85 per cent, which measures the probability of a test identifying cases.

It also had a specificity, which describes a test's ability to pick up non-cases, of 93 per cent.   

Ovarian cancer affects 7,300 new women every year in the UK, Target Ovarian Cancer statistics show.

And in the US, around 22,530 women are expected to be diagnosed in 2019, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). 

Ovarian cancer's vague symptoms, such as feeling full quickly, are difficult to diagnose and mean the disease is often only spotted once it is advanced.

WHY OVARIAN CANCER IS CALLED A 'SILENT KILLER' 

About 80 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease.

At the time of diagnosis, 60 percent of ovarian cancers will have already spread to other parts of the body, bringing the five-year survival rate down to 30 percent from 90 percent in the earliest stage.  

It's diagnosed so late because its location in the pelvis, according to Dr Ronny Drapkin, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who's been studying the disease for more than two decades.

'The pelvis is like a bowl, so a tumor there can grow quite large before it actually becomes noticeable,' Dr Drapkin told Daily Mail Online.

The first symptoms to arise with ovarian cancer are gastrointestinal because tumors can start to press upward.

When a patient complains of gastrointestinal discomfort, doctors are more likely to focus on diet change and other causes than suggest an ovarian cancer screening.

Dr Drapkin said it's usually not until after a patient endures persistent gastrointestinal symptoms that they will receive a screening that reveals the cancer.

'Ovarian cancer is often said to be a silent killer because it doesn't have early symptoms, when in fact it does have symptoms, they're just very general and could be caused by other things,' he said.

'One of the things I tell women is that nobody knows your body as well as you do. If you feel something isn't right, something's probably not right.'

Only 30 to 40 per cent of patients survive five years after treatment, according to statistics.

Unlike breast and cervical, ovarian cancer is not screened for in the UK because there isn't a test that reliably spots them at an early stage.

Women who are suspected to have the disease are therefore forced to undergo an ultrasound scan to check for any abnormalities. 

They may then be sent for 'surgical sampling'. As well as this procedure being invasive, over-diagnosis is high. 

One study found out a group of women diagnosed via surgery, just 21-to-30 per cent had ovarian cancer. The rest had benign tumours or borderline masses.  

Study author Professor Karin Sundfeldt said: 'We need to develop more accurate pre-surgery diagnostics. 

'To detect one cancer, we operate on up to five women - yet this is currently the best option when abnormalities are detected by ultrasound and cancer is suspected.

'There is a great need for a simple blood test that could identify women who do not need surgery.' 

Alexandra Holden, director of communications at Target Ovarian Cancer, added: 'Early detection of ovarian cancer is the holy grail.

'Research into new biomarkers shows great promise and we look forward to a future where more women are diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.

'If borne out by future research, this would represent a major breakthrough.' The researchers admitted further trials are needed.

It is not the only blood test that is being trialled for spotting ovarian cancer early.  

One already being used with looks for the chemical CA125, which is given off by cancer cells that circulate in the bloodstream. 

However, not everyone with ovarian cancer has elevated CA125, meaning it is not a reliable candidate for a screening programme. 

Another approach involves putting an ultrasound probe into the vagina to give medics a better picture of the ovaries. 

But it can be difficult to tell whether an ovary has a tumour or just a harmless cyst using this method.

For both screening methods, there is 'no clear evidence these pick up cancers early and save lives', according to Cancer Research UK. 

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER?

The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be difficult to recognise, particularly early on.

They're often the same as symptoms of less serious conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). 

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

• Feeling constantly bloated
• A swollen tummy
• Discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area
• Feeling full quickly when eating, or loss of appetite
• Needing to pee more often or more urgently than normal

Other symptoms can include:

• Persistent indigestion or nausea
• Pain during sex
• A change in your bowel habits
• Back pain
• Vaginal bleeding – particularly bleeding after the menopause
• Feeling tired all the time
• Unintentional weight loss

When to see your GP

See your GP if:

• You've been feeling bloated most days for the last three weeks
• You have other symptoms of ovarian cancer that won't go away – especially if you're over 50 or have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, as you may be at a higher risk

It's unlikely you have cancer, but it's best to check. Your GP can do some simple tests. 

Source: NHS Choices 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7162199/Blood-test-detects-ovarian-cancer-save-thousands-women-unnecessary-surgery.html

What’s up with gluten?

Many people believe that a gluten-free diet helps ease abdominal symptoms that have baffled doctors and researchers.

November 12, 2017


Food containing gluten include wheat, barley and rye.

There are no available statistics on the number of patients suffering from non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) in Malaysia because there’s no such test currently to find out if someone is sensitive to gluten, said consultant gastroenterologist and physician Dr P. Shanthi.

“But it is real and there are papers published by the scientific community,” she said in an interview.

Food containing gluten include wheat, barley and rye.

Dr Shanthi said that currently, the only way of knowing if someone is sensitive to gluten is by putting them on a gluten-free diet and seeing if gastrointestinal symptoms resolve and then re-challenging them with gluten-containing food and looking for symptom recurrence.

She said that coeliac disease (CD), which is proven to be linked to gluten sensitivity, is rare in Malaysia, and it is believed that more people suffer from NCGS.

While there are no statistics on NCGS in Malaysia, Dr Shanthi said the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) varies from 10.9% to 15% (more than three million) of the population. An international journal quoted a global prevalence of 11.2%.

While not all IBS patients are sensitive to gluten, research has shown that certain patients with diarrhoea-predominant IBS may have gluten sensitivity, she said.

Consultant gastroenterologist and physician Dr P. Shanthi.

“Currently, patients with problematic IBS are prescribed the Fermentable Oligo- Di- Mono-saccharides and Polyols (Fodmaps) free diet because Fodmaps are found to cause bloating, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps in certain individuals,” she said.

Asked why food containing gluten are also listed in Fodmaps, Dr Shanthi said it was because of the starch found in wheat, which forms the biggest component in wheat flour (70-75%).

“The fructants in starch can cause IBS,” she said.

She said that for those with IBS and functional dyspepsia (a chronic disorder of sensation and movement [peristalsis] in the upper digestive tract), fruits with excess fructose and milk could pose an issue.

For instance, apples and pears are categorised as having “high fructose” but not bananas, she said.

Asked if those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – need to adhere to a gluten-free diet, she said they do not need to.

“But those with IBD and IBS can try the diet if it helps with their symptoms,” she said, adding that IBD patients still have to take a lot of medicines such as steroids and immosuppresants.

The other group of people who suffer from gluten-related disorders are those with wheat allergy, which could be detected by a blood test for IgE or skin prick test, according to Dr Shanthi.

When exposed to wheat products, they could suffer allergic reactions such as breathing difficulties, swelling or breaking out in rashes, she said.

None of the evidence thus far has convinced Dr Nazrul Neezam Nordin.

Paediatric gastroenterologist Dr Nazrul Neezam Nordin said there was insufficient evidence to suggest NCGS exists because the symptoms that NCGS patients say they suffer from such as headache, abdominal bloating and pains and diarrhoea are non-specific, which could be caused by anything and not necessarily gluten.

Patients could be getting bloating from being fructose intolerant or lactose intolerant, for instance, he said.

“So far, none of the evidence has convinced me. There isn’t enough strong evidence to back these claims,” he said, adding that it is also difficult to design a study to assess non-specific symptoms alleged to be caused by gluten sensitivity, contributing to scarcity of evidence.

To make things worse, there is also an absence of a reliable biological marker to confirm or exclude gluten sensitivity, he said.

Dr Nazrul said that the only gluten related disorder that has been clearly defined are CD and wheat allergy.

While he saw only one or two cases of CD as a paediatrician of 11 years in Malaysia, he saw many wheat allergy cases such as lip swelling, rashes and sometimes diarrhoea, which occur quickly after exposure to the allergen, he said.

But CD remains an important and common condition in other parts of the world, he said.

However, he pointed out that for children with recurrent abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an important diagnosis to be excluded as the incidence is increasing at an alarming rate in Malaysia.

Irritable bowel syndrome is another important diagnosis and specific dietary intervention such as low Fodmaps diet and stress control are recommended as part of the management, he said, adding that IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Dr Nazrul said it is not uncommon to see many people suffering from chronic pain such as headaches, body aches, back pains although scans do not show any problems. Hence IBS should not come as a surprise.

Dietitian Celeste Lau said CD patients have to be on gluten-free (GF) diet completely as even tiny amounts could trigger a severe reaction, while those with IBS and IBD do not need to avoid it unless they are sensitive to gluten.

For those without CD but have gluten sensitivity, they should also avoid gluten, she said.

Besides noodles, bread and cakes, food that people may not realise contain gluten are sausages (the wrap may have gluten), burgers (if added with in fillers), licorice, candies, marshmallows, milk pudding, custard (gelatin which may contain gluten), she said.

She also said that some rice and corn cereals may have been added with gluten too while fruit pie fillings and soy sauce too may contain gluten.

“While some experts say those sensitive to gluten can eat oats, others advise otherwise as oats could be exposed to cross-contamination unless certified otherwise,” she said.

Lau said that the GF diet may also help those with severe dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin manifestation of the body’s abnormal response to gluten. It often occurs with CD, but can occur alone without bowel damage.

GF food is not easily available in Malaysia, and those with a gluten issue should read food labels to avoid gluten, she said.

NCGS and coeliac patients also need to avoid food with “may contain gluten” labels because cross-contamination could occur in the manufacturing processes, she said.

She said that many patients had gone to her to see if a GF diet helps, and they include patients with eczema, IBS, IBD, food sensitivities, as well as parents with autistic children, and it worked for some, but not all.

Lau said some IBS and IBD patients could eat food with gluten while others could not, but most could tolerate a small amount.

Since the cause of IBS is unknown, gluten food could be omitted or reduced to see if there is any relief, she said, adding that those suffering from IBS need a low Fodmaps diet and should try and keep their stress levels down.

She said that probiotics may work for IBS patients, but not for IBD patients.

For confirmed IBD patients, they do not need to be on a GF diet unless they have discomfort with gluten, she said.

Lau said IBD patients have malabsorption and digestion problems and they have to go on a low residue diet or low fibre diet as too much fibre may trigger inflammation in their bodies.

“Depending on their tolerance level, they can still eat fruits, but with the skin removed. For vegetables, they can eat the leafy parts and less of the stalks,” she said.

For those with IBD or coeliac, they also suffer from malabsorption and weight gain problems and need a high protein and high-calorie diet such as meat, fish and chicken because they suffer from inflammation, said Lau.

“They also need supplementation with multivitamins. Their vitamins A, B, E may be low and they are prone to anaemia,” she said.

http://www.star2.com/health/nutrition/2017/11/12/whats-up-with-gluten/

How GMOs, Pesticides and Processed Foods Contribute to Common Bowel Disorders

Linked to IBD, IBS and cancer, it could be making you downright miserable (not to mention embarrassed) today with cramps, diarrhea, etc. If you're one of...

November 23, 2016 

Story at-a-glance

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 3 million American adults. It can have serious consequences, including raising your risk for colorectal cancer
• Factors thought to play a role in rising IBD rates include antibiotics, toxic exposures such as pesticides and GMOs, and processed food ingredients such as the emulsifiers polysorbate-80 and carboxymethylcellulose
• Glyphosate and Bt toxin have both been linked to rising IBD rates. Independent testing reveals glyphosate is present at “alarming levels” in many popular processed foods

By Dr. Mercola

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — is an autoimmune disease that can have very serious consequences.

(IBS, on the other hand, is a functional bowel disorder. In other words, there are no significant physical conditions that contribute to the problem; hence it's a functional disease.)

According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), IBD affects more than 3 million American adults, nearly triple previous estimates.1 There are two types of IBD:

• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Both of these IBD conditions involve chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, fatigue and diarrhea. IBD also raises your risk of developing colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the U.S.2

What's Behind Rise in IBD?

As with many other autoimmune disorders, IBD cannot be traced back to any single cause; rather, it appears to be influenced by several factors, including:

• Genetics
• Toxic environmental exposures
• Diet
• Altered intestinal microbiome
• Immune dysfunction

Researchers believe the rise in IBD may be linked to dietary changes, as more people are now eating primarily processed foods high in sugars and synthetic chemicals. Other factors thought to play a role in IBD include:3,4

• Air pollution
• Excessive exposure to antibiotics
• Pesticide exposure (glyphosate being identified as being particularly harsh on gut microbes)
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

As noted by Digestive Medical Solutions:5

"[I]n addition to the rising economic, ecological and ethical questions raised by GMOs, there is a growing health risk … Specifically, a higher risk for allergies, toxic intestinal bacteria, reduced immune function, liver problems and many other highly controversial links.

These risks apply to everyone, but especially those with irritable bowel diseases. For a patient with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, they're devastating, making it difficult for patients to recover properly, especially with so many other complications involved.

Ultimately, GMOs create bowel hypersensitivity, increase inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. This makes IBD and IBS cases much worse, as they contribute and in some cases, may actually trigger these diseases."

How Glyphosate Affects Your Health

While Monsanto insists that Roundup is safe and "minimally toxic" to humans, independent research6 strongly suggests that glyphosate residues "enhance the damaging effects of other food-borne chemical residues and toxins in the environment to disrupt normal body functions and induce disease."

According to Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Anthony Samsel, Ph.D., a research scientist and consultant:

"Negative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body."

Samsel and Seneff have also published research tying glyphosate exposure to Celiac disease and gluten intolerance.7

While genetically engineered (GE) crops such as corn, soybeans and sugar beets tend to contain higher levels of glyphosate due to them being more heavily sprayed, conventional non-organic crops such as wheat are also routinely doused with glyphosate pre-harvest to boost yield, a practice known as dessication. In summary, studies have found that glyphosate:

•Inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of organic substances. This, Samsel and Seneff believe, is "an overlooked component of its toxicity to mammals."

One of the functions of CYP enzymes is to detoxify xenobiotics — chemical compounds found in a living organism that are not normally produced or consumed by the organism in question.

By limiting the ability of these enzymes to detoxify foreign chemical compounds, glyphosate enhances the damaging effects of those chemicals and environmental toxins you may be exposed to.

•Impairs the serum sulfate transport system in your body. Consequences of glyphosate interfering with CYP enzymes and impairing sulfate transport include GI disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

•Destroys the tight junctions in the cell membranes in your gut, thereby leading to "leaky" gut and absorption of undigested foods you were never designed to absorb.

•Makes the gliadin in wheat highly indigestible. Moreover, by attaching to gliadin, glyphosate may promote immune reactions.

Alarming Levels of Glyphosate Found in Popular Foods

According to independent testing by The Detox Project, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto's best-selling herbicide Roundup) is present at "alarming levels" in many popular processed foods.8

Scientists have found glyphosate can alter gene function in the livers and kidneys of rats at levels as low as 0.05 parts per billion (ppb).

Meanwhile, Cheerios was found to contain more than 1,125 ppb of glyphosate, Doritos more than 481 ppb and Ritz crackers more than 270 ppb. According to Dave Murphy, executive director of Food Democracy Now!:

"It's time for regulators at the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and the White House to stop playing politics with our food and start putting the wellbeing of the American public above the profits of chemical companies like Monsanto."

GMOs May Be Responsible for Rise in IBS Too

IBS is far more common than IBD, affecting an estimated 70 million Americans. Symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), a functional GI disease, include frequent:

• Abdominal discomfort and/or pain
• Spastic colon (spastic contractions of the colon)
• Gas and bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

Avoiding gluten is an important first step in treating this condition. But avoiding GMOs and pesticides may be equally important. As noted by Naked Food:9

"If you … suffer from a chronic digestive issue, then you should know that the food you choose to consume could be carrying a gene that is designed to intentionally cause intestinal rupture. [GMO] foods that contain Bt toxin, a built-in insecticide that inherently works by imploding the stomach of the creature that is feasting on it, could very well be contributing to your intestinal angst."

Bt Crops Are Pesticides

Bt plants are a different breed of GE crops. Contrary to herbicide-resistant GE crops, Bt crops are equipped with a gene from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), allowing them to produce Bt toxin internally. Plant-incorporated pesticides such as Bt (both the protein and its genetic material) are actually registered with the EPA as a pesticide,10 but the Bt plant itself is not regulated as such. This has resulted in the false claim that Bt plants have reduced pesticide usage.

The Bt toxin produced inside Bt crops is NOT actually included in the data collection on pesticide usage. So to say that Bt crops promote less chemical-heavy agriculture is truly a gross misrepresentation of reality. Every single cell of the Bt plant contains this insecticide, yet not a drop of it is counted. The failure to count the toxin inside the plant, and only counting the pesticides applied topically, is a significant loophole that makes Bt plants appear to provide a benefit that in reality simply isn't true.

Moreover, while topically applied Bt toxin biodegrades in sunlight and can be washed off, the Bt toxin in these GE plants does not degrade, nor can it be removed or cleaned off the food because it's integrated into every cell of the plant. The plant-produced version of the poison is also thousands of times more concentrated than the topical spray, so in reality, Bt pesticide exposure has risen exponentially, no matter what the pesticide usage data says.

Bt Toxin Is Exempt From Toxicity Requirements

Plant-incorporated Bt toxin in Bt soybeans is also exempt from the requirement of a tolerance level for residues,11 both in the commodity and in the final food product. The final rule on this was issued in February 2014. This is truly incomprehensible in light of the potential for harm.

Originally, Monsanto and the EPA claimed the Bt toxin produced inside the plant would be destroyed in the human digestive system, therefore posing no health risk. This was proven false when, in 2011, doctors at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec found Bt toxin in the blood of 93 percent of pregnant women tested, 80 percent of umbilical blood in their babies and 67 percent of non-pregnant women.12

The study showed that Bt toxin actually bioaccumulates in your body. Other research13 suggests it may produce a wide variety of immune responses, including elevated IgE and IgG antibodies, typically associated with allergies and infections, and an increase in cytokines, associated with allergic and inflammatory responses. A study14 published in 2011 found that Bt toxin affects human cells, both in isolation and in combination with glyphosate-based herbicides, including Roundup. 

Since Introduction of Bt Crops, IBD Has Significantly Risen

That study also showed that the pesticide crystal proteins Cry1Ab, a subspecies of the Bt toxin, causes cell death starting at 100 parts per million (ppm). As noted by Naked Food Magazine, there are distinct parallels between the prevalence of Bt crops and GI disorders such as IBD and IBS:15

"Genetically modified foods that carry the Bt toxin first came to American households in 1996. Between the years of 1979 and 1998, the number of Americans to suffer from Crohn's Disease … bounced back and forth between 225 per 100,000 people to 300 per 100,000 people.

In 2000, that number shot up to 375 per 100,000 people, and has been on the rise ever since. Ambulatory care visits from those who reported inflammatory bowel symptoms went from 275 per 100,000 people to 375 per 100,000 people between the years of 1994 and 1998."

Protect Your Health by Avoiding GMOs

As noted by Digestive Medical Solution:16

"The first and more important step you can take to protect yourself from damages that may be caused by GMOs is to change your diet. Non-GMO, free-range and otherwise organic foods should replace any GMOs you regularly consume. It also helps to avoid the most common food allergens, such as gluten and sugar products …

However, the damage caused may be long-lasting. GMOs may make you allergic to non-GM foods. Since the genetic material in GM soy transfers to the bacteria living in the intestines, it continues to function and spew proteins continuously. Clearing the body of these harmful substances is no easy task."

The most commonly consumed GMO crops (which includes both herbicide-resistant and Bt varieties) are:17,18,19

• Corn (found in most processed foods in the form of corn meal, corn syrup, corn starch, corn flour and so on)
• Soy (which can hide under descriptions such as lecithin and starch, among others)
• Canola (rapeseed oil)
• Sugar beets

You may also be exposed to Bt toxin via meat from animals fed Bt corn, and glyphosate via herbicide-resistant GE grain feed such as corn and soy, all of which are common staples in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). This is one of several good reasons for making sure your meats come from organically raised grass-fed animals.

Other Processed Food Ingredients May Also Wreak Havoc in Your Gut

Besides pesticides such as glyphosate and Bt toxin, processed foods contain a variety of other ingredients that can wreak havoc in your gut. Recent research suggests emulsifiers such as polysorbate 80 and carboxymethyl cellulose play a role in IBD and colorectal cancer, primarily by inducing chronic low-grade inflammation.20,21 As reported by Medical News Today:22

"Normally the intestine is protected from a variety of harmful bacteria via the mucus structures that cover the intestines, keeping the harmful bacteria away from the epithelial cells that line the intestine. But emulsifiers seem to help transport bacteria across epithelial cells … The team fed mice the two most common additives have also been linked to low-grade bowel inflammation and metabolic disease: polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose.

The doses were replicated so as to mirror the proportions these emulsifiers are commonly added to human processed food … Not only did emulsifiers alter the microbiotic environment in a way that is pro-inflammatory, but it also changed the balance between cell proliferation and cell death, which enhances tumor development."

For Optimal Health, Opt for Organic Food

A large number of studies have shown that organic foods:23,24,25,26,27,28

• Are less likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues. (Synthetic chemicals are not permitted in organic agriculture, yet can occur due to contamination from nearby conventional farms.)
• Contain fewer heavy metals (on average 48 percent lower levels of cadmium,29 for example).
• Contain anywhere from 18 to 69 percent more antioxidants than conventionally grown varieties.
• May in some cases be more nutrient-dense. For example, one 2010 study,30 which was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), found that organic strawberries were more nutrient-rich than non-organic strawberries.

If you live in the U.S., the following organizations can help you locate farm-fresh foods:

EatWild.com EatWild.com provides lists of farmers known to produce wholesome raw dairy products as well as grass-fed beef and other farm-fresh produce (although not all are certified organic). Here you can also find information about local farmers markets, as well as local stores and restaurants that sell grass-fed products.

Weston A. Price Foundation Weston A. Price has local chapters in most states, and many of them are connected with buying clubs in which you can easily purchase organic foods, including grass fed raw dairy products like milk and butter.

Grassfed Exchange The Grassfed Exchange has a listing of producers selling organic and grass-fed meats across the U.S.

Local Harvest This website will help you find farmers markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

Farmers Markets A national listing of farmers markets.

Eat Well Guide: Wholesome Food from Healthy Animals The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs from farms, stores, restaurants, inns, hotels and online outlets in the United States and Canada.

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) CISA is dedicated to sustaining agriculture and promoting the products of small farms.

FoodRoutes The FoodRoutes "Find Good Food" map can help you connect with local farmers to find the freshest, tastiest food possible. On their interactive map, you can find a listing for local farmers, CSAs and markets near you.

The Cornucopia Institute The Cornucopia Institute maintains web-based tools rating all certified organic brands of eggs, dairy products, and other commodities, based on their ethical sourcing and authentic farming practices separating CAFO "organic" production from authentic organic practices.

RealMilk.com If you're still unsure of where to find raw milk, check out Raw-Milk-Facts.com and RealMilk.com. They can tell you what the status is for legality in your state, and provide a listing of raw dairy farms in your area. The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund31 also provides a state-by-state review of raw milk laws.32 California residents can also find raw milk retailers using the store locator available at www.OrganicPastures.com.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/11/23/inflammatory-bowel-disease-rise.aspx