This question is asked of me often. Why is organic food important? What exactly does that mean anyway? Is it worth it?
If you want to avoid ingesting chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers then you likely want to buy organic as they avoid them. Pesticides are designed to kill living things (like bugs, fungi, and plants). They have been linked to multiple health conditions in humans over the years including different cancers, negatively effecting hormones and central nervous system disruptions. Organic foods also avoid any genetic engineering and are produced without radiation.
The CDC has been collecting and testing blood and urine samples to detect pesticides for years. Amazingly 100% of people in the US over the age of 6 (between 2005 and 2016) tested positive for detectable levels of pesticides. Food is the predominant source of exposure to pesticides. Studies have shown that when people switch from standard produce to organic produce, the detectable amounts of pesticides in their urine dramatically decreased. This shift is immediate when you make the switch to organic. Those who ate higher amounts of fruits and vegetables with pesticides and also tested with high amounts of pesticide in their urine had lower fertility (and also less protection from the nutrients the crops were supposed to give for cardiovascular protection). Those who had a high consumption of organic foods had lower urinary pesticide levels and also reduced rates of preeclampsia risks during pregnancy and obesity among moms, reduced risk of Type II diabetes and also lower BMI. There are health benefits measured by eating organic foods.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) annually publishes the “Dirty Dozen” listing the top 12 fruits or vegetables that tested highest in pesticide residues. Consider buying organic foods from this list whenever possible as a starting off point.
EWG's DIRTY DOZEN |
1) Strawberries- the worst offender! |
2) Spinach |
3) Kale |
4) Grapes |
5) Peaches |
6) Pears |
7) Nectarines |
8) Apples |
9) Bell and Hot Peppers |
10) Cherries |
11) Blueberries |
12) Green Beans |
The EWG also produces the “Clean 15” which are the produce items with the least amount of pesticide residue detected. These may be safer to purchase if you cannot commit to all organic:
EWG's CLEAN 15 |
1. Carrots |
2. Sweet Potatoes |
3. Mangoes |
4. Mushrooms |
5. Watermelon |
6. Cabbage |
7. Kiwi |
8. Honeydew melon |
9. Asparagus |
10. Sweet peas |
11. Papaya |
12. Onions |
13. Pineapple |
14. Sweet corn |
15. Avocados |
If you are concerned about exposure to toxins such as pesticide, it is best to always buy organic produce and foods. However, if buying organic is cost prohibitive and prevents you from eating fruits and vegetables, then eating any fruit and vegetable may be more important. But when it comes to budgeting your money, giving priority to your food and beverage choices will save your health care dollars in the long run. Something to think about.
Another thing to consider is how well your body can detoxify disrupting chemicals. As hard as we might try to avoid them, toxins are everywhere. Our bodies are actually designed to get rid of harmful substances. I'll talk more about your detoxification pathways in a future blog. You can learn about your own detoxification ability and how to improve it learning your 3x4 genetic blueprint results (see my website services for more information).
If you have questions regarding this post OR if you want to know how to start making important moves toward a healthier diet and/or exercise routing, click on Discovery Call to find out how I can help you.
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