Kiyoshi Suzuki, MD, PhD
President, MOA Health Science Foundation
To conclude my talk on the organic farming and Nature Farming method, this time I will talk about the effects of organic farming and Nature Farming methods on humans.
It’s actually quite difficult to find out how different ingredients affect people. Not only is it difficult to make all of our daily ingredients into organic and/or Nature Farming products, but we also need to compare the same diets as those who continue to eat with conventional farming ingredients. Even more troublesome is that even if the ingredients are the same, the results will vary depending on the constitution and environment of each individual.
Please be aware of these limitations and read the following research results.
1. Domestic research
Honorary Professor Toshiro Sonoda of Kagoshima University investigated the effects on humans from differences in soil using the MOA Nature Farming method and conventional farming in Kagoshima Prefecture. I think such a consistent study is the first in the world.
Soil and crop composition analysis, like other reports, showed the differences between the MOA Nature Farming method and conventional farming. Then, using the crops harvested from each farmland, he asked participants to ingest 1.5 liters of tea a day and 150 grams of sweet potatoes a day for two weeks. As a result, people who ingested the MOA Nature Farming crops tended to have more antioxidants in their blood and less active oxygen (MOA Health Science Foundation Research Report 2009; 13: 17-35).
Kotaro Kato, a researcher at the MOA Health Science Foundation, has been studying human intestinal bacteria for many years. Although still under research, it is becoming clear that the intestinal bacteria of people who mainly ate MOA Nature Farming products are different from those of people who ate conventional farming ingredients.
The MOA-related organization, Agriculture, Environment, and Health Research Institute, is one of the few domestic research institutes that studies organic farming and Nature Farming method, and is conducting research on environmental and biodiversity. They are developing seeds suited for the Nature Farming method as well.
2. Overseas research
In Europe and the United States, there are corners and supermarkets that specialize in organic agricultural products, so there are some large-scale studies investigating the effects of organic foods on humans. Most reports show that there was no difference in blood test data or disease incidence compared to conventional farming ingredients, as it is difficult for people to continue eating only organic ingredients (Clin Exp Dermatol 2011; 36: 573-78 etc.).
But there is a difference. Do you know Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925)? He is about the same age as Mokichi Okada (1882-1955). Steiner left a great mark in fields such as agriculture, education, art, and medicine. Biodynamic farming based on his theory is also the etymology of organic farming, and there are interesting reports on its ingredients.
Breast milk from people who make more than 90% of their dairy products biodynamic farming has different ingredients than those who use regular dairy products (Brit J Nutr 2007; 97: 735-43). Infants had less eczema (Brit J Nutr 2008; 99: 598-605). In addition, children at Steiner Elementary School reportedly had less rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis than children at regular schools (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006; 117: 59-66). However, this difference should be considered as a comprehensive result that includes the effects of organic agricultural products and the effects of Steiner education, art, medicine, etc.
Gut microbiota is one of the recent topics and has been found to be associated with not only intestinal illnesses but also various illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and depression. It is thought that the pesticides and antibiotics remaining in the crops affect the intestinal bacteria as well as the difference in the amount of antioxidants and dietary fiber contained in the crops of organic farming, Nature Farming and conventional farming.
The importance of organic farming and Nature Farming will be attracting more attention in the future from the viewpoint of keeping the intestinal bacteria in a healthy state and protecting our health.
【Profile】
Kiyoshi Suzuki
Dr. Suzuki graduated from the Chiba University School of Medicine in 1981; medical doctor. After working as Deputy Director of Pediatrics at Sakakibara Memorial Hospital, he worked at the MOA Seijô Clinic, and is director of (Medical) Gyokusenkai MOA Takanawa Clinic / Tokyo Clinic, President of THE MOA Health Science Foundation and Honorary Director of Tokyo Wellness Center. (One company) He is a Director of the Japan Society for Integrated Medical Sciences and Chairman of the International Committee. In 1994, he was awarded the Young Investigator’s Award by the Japanese Circulation Society.
