· By Joseph Welstead
Are Organic Supplements Better for You?
Is Organic better? This is a long-lasting debate. And the way we see it, there will always be room for debate on this issue, only because the question is a little simplistic.
Is organic maltodextrin any better than conventional maltodextrin? Both are highly refined carbohydrates with little nutritional value to offer, so in this particular case we’d probably argue that there is no difference*. As in, the organic logo does not ensure any health benefits to the maltodextrin. So you might wonder, what is all the fuss about? In many cases, the more processed the food, the more organic regulations matter. Take whey protein, for example. Did you know that it is currently impossible to organically manufacture whey protein isolate (over 90% protein content)? Indeed, the harsh manufacturing process (read: the artificial “processing aids”) of extracting the dairy protein to such a high level cannot be labelled organic. But before you even get to that stage, you have the dairy farms which must comply to organic regulations, meaning grass-fed cows grazing far from polluted areas, no antibiotics in the food chain, no GM-feed, no growth hormones, no pesticides. Once you have the whey protein powder, you reach the next stage: additives. Organic regulations really kick into play here with a long list of banned additives including sucralose, stevia (in the UK & EU) and most so-called “natural” flavourings and colouring agents.So are Organic Supplements Better for You?
The Soil Association, our certifying body, claims organic crops are up to 60% higher in nutrients than conventional equivalents. Of course, there will always be sceptics and critics of such studies – who funded them, was there a bias? But this is just one side of the coin when it comes to sport supplements.
When it comes to sport supplements, the question becomes a much deeper and more meaningful matter than simply comparing an organic avocado to a conventional avocado.
Take a conventional pre-workout supplement, and compare this to our Organic Pre-Workout Energiser. There is very little in common beyond the name and purpose of the products. A whole world of differences hides behind the simple word "organic". The type of ingredients used (e.g. artificial caffeine vs matcha green tea). The holistic health impact of the product. Even the packaging material of our product is controlled by the Soil Association.
What this means for Motion Nutrition
| Motion Nutrition Organic Pre Workout Energiser ingredients list: | MyProtein MyPre conventional preworkout ingredients list: |
| sea buckthorn juice powder*, lucuma powder*, beetroot juice powder*, baobab fruit powder*, maca powder*, matcha green tea*, guarana powder*, unrefined coconut palm sugar*, panax ginseng powder*. * certified organic ingredient. | Thiamin (as thiamine HCL), Riboflavin (as riboflavin), Niacin (as niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl), Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin), Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (as d-calcium pantothenate), Chromium (as chromium chloride hexahydrate), BCAA 2:1:1, L-Citrulline DL-Malate 1:1, Beta Alanine, D-Aspartic Acid, L-Arginine AKG, Betain Anhy., Creatine HCl, Creatine 1H20, Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine Ethyl Ester HCl, L-Leucine, L-Lysine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, Caffeine (Caffeine PWD & Guarana Ext. 12%), L-Arginine, L-Threonine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Methionine, L-Histidine, Guarana Ext. 12%, L-Tryptophan, Sodium (as sodium citrate dihydrate and sodium chloride), Flavourings, Sweeteners (Sucralose, Acesulfame K), Colour (Brilliant Blue FCF). |
*Organic maltodextrin, though similar in form to conventional maltodextrin, cannot derive from GM corn crops - so that is one element to bear in mind when comparing the two.