Organic vs. Non-organic
Many people wonder if buying organic foods is worth the investment. Conventionally grown foods, or non-organic, has become almost entirely a commercialized business operation where everything is grown in large crops, and to maximize the yield of the crop pesticides and herbicides are used to kill insects and weeds. Organic farmers use natural methods such as insect predators, crop rotation, mulches, and barriers to maximize the yield of their crops. Pesticides are designed to kill living organisms that inhabit crops and reduce the yield. Many studies have shown that pesticides damage the environment, are dangerous for workers and have many negative effects on laboratory animals.
Almost all commonly used pesticides are neurotoxins that affect the nervous system. Your nervous system is made up of your brain, spinal cord and nerves which control and coordinate everything within your body. Think of your nervous system as the computer of your body that runs every program and keeps everything working properly. Anything that interferes with this system can have major effects on your health. Three epidemiological studies published in Environmental Health Perspectives in April 2011 show a clear link between a mother’s exposure to organophosphate insecticides during pregnancy and deficits to children’s learning and memory that persist through the ages of 6 to 9.
The major concern most families have with organic food is the expense. If a family plans out their meals each week and purchases what is in-season, eating an organically based foods diet can be affordable. If this is not an option for your family, I recommend using the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) "Dirty Dozen" list. An analysis by the EWG estimated that consumers could reduce their exposure to pesticides by almost 90 percent merely by buying organic for the foods on their "Dirty Dozen" list. The EWG has produced a wallet-size Shoppers' Guide listing the 12 fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated with pesticides (the "Dirty Dozen"), as well as those that generally contain the lowest amount of pesticides (the "Clean 15"). The information is based on nearly 43,000 tests conducted by the USDA and FDA. Below is the list of the "Dirty Dozen" and if you click on the link it will take you to the printable wallet-size Shoppers' Guide.
Dirty Dozen
1.) Apples
2.) Celery
3.) Strawberries
4.) Peaches
5.) Spinach
6.) Nectarines
7.) Grapes
8.) Sweet bell peppers
9.) Potatoes
10.) Blueberries
11.) Lettuce
12.) Kale/Collard greens
http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/foodnews/pdf/2011EWGPesticideGuide.pdf
Taking simple steps to be more conscious about the foods you buy can improve your health and your family's health. My challenge for everyone is to buy one of the items on the list this week and see if you can taste the difference in the organic food. Your body will thank you for eating better more natural fruits and vegetables!
References:
Environmental Working Group http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
Adverse Birth Outcomes and Maternal Exposure to Trichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene through Soil Vapor Intrusion in New York State
Steven P. Forand, Elizabeth L. Lewis-Michl, Marta I. Gomez
p. 616 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103884
Pre- and Postnatal Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations and Longitudinal Measures of Thymus Volume in Infants
Todd A. Jusko, Dean Sonneborn, Lubica Palkovicova, Anton Kocan, Beata Drobna, Tomas Trnovec, Irva Hertz-Picciottop. 595 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104229
Peripheral Nervous System Function and Organophosphate Pesticide Use among Licensed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study
Sarah E. Starks, Jane A. Hoppin, Freya Kamel, Charles F. Lynch, Michael P. Jones, Michael C. Alavanja, Dale P. Sandler, Fred Gerrp. 515 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103944
Polyfluoroalkyl Compounds in Texas Children from Birth through 12 Years of Age
Arnold Schecter, Noor Malik-Bass, Antonia M. Calafat, Kayoko Kato, Justin A. Colacino, Tyra L. Gent, Linda S. Hynan, T. Robert Harris, Sunitha Malla, Linda Birnbaum
p. 590 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104325
Almost all commonly used pesticides are neurotoxins that affect the nervous system. Your nervous system is made up of your brain, spinal cord and nerves which control and coordinate everything within your body. Think of your nervous system as the computer of your body that runs every program and keeps everything working properly. Anything that interferes with this system can have major effects on your health. Three epidemiological studies published in Environmental Health Perspectives in April 2011 show a clear link between a mother’s exposure to organophosphate insecticides during pregnancy and deficits to children’s learning and memory that persist through the ages of 6 to 9.
The major concern most families have with organic food is the expense. If a family plans out their meals each week and purchases what is in-season, eating an organically based foods diet can be affordable. If this is not an option for your family, I recommend using the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) "Dirty Dozen" list. An analysis by the EWG estimated that consumers could reduce their exposure to pesticides by almost 90 percent merely by buying organic for the foods on their "Dirty Dozen" list. The EWG has produced a wallet-size Shoppers' Guide listing the 12 fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated with pesticides (the "Dirty Dozen"), as well as those that generally contain the lowest amount of pesticides (the "Clean 15"). The information is based on nearly 43,000 tests conducted by the USDA and FDA. Below is the list of the "Dirty Dozen" and if you click on the link it will take you to the printable wallet-size Shoppers' Guide.
Dirty Dozen
1.) Apples
2.) Celery
3.) Strawberries
4.) Peaches
5.) Spinach
6.) Nectarines
7.) Grapes
8.) Sweet bell peppers
9.) Potatoes
10.) Blueberries
11.) Lettuce
12.) Kale/Collard greens
http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/foodnews/pdf/2011EWGPesticideGuide.pdf
Taking simple steps to be more conscious about the foods you buy can improve your health and your family's health. My challenge for everyone is to buy one of the items on the list this week and see if you can taste the difference in the organic food. Your body will thank you for eating better more natural fruits and vegetables!
References:
Environmental Working Group http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
Adverse Birth Outcomes and Maternal Exposure to Trichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene through Soil Vapor Intrusion in New York State
Steven P. Forand, Elizabeth L. Lewis-Michl, Marta I. Gomez
p. 616 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103884
Pre- and Postnatal Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations and Longitudinal Measures of Thymus Volume in Infants
Todd A. Jusko, Dean Sonneborn, Lubica Palkovicova, Anton Kocan, Beata Drobna, Tomas Trnovec, Irva Hertz-Picciottop. 595 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104229
Peripheral Nervous System Function and Organophosphate Pesticide Use among Licensed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study
Sarah E. Starks, Jane A. Hoppin, Freya Kamel, Charles F. Lynch, Michael P. Jones, Michael C. Alavanja, Dale P. Sandler, Fred Gerrp. 515 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103944
Polyfluoroalkyl Compounds in Texas Children from Birth through 12 Years of Age
Arnold Schecter, Noor Malik-Bass, Antonia M. Calafat, Kayoko Kato, Justin A. Colacino, Tyra L. Gent, Linda S. Hynan, T. Robert Harris, Sunitha Malla, Linda Birnbaum
p. 590 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104325
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