Choose Organic Produce Where It Matters Most
Published:
January 16, 2008
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Scientists have shown that children age 5 and under ingest an average of eight pesticides each day, as trace residues in and on the healthy fruits and vegetables we are eager for them to eat. Designed as weapons against agricultural pests, conventional pesticides have their unintended victims, including wildlife and people. Studies link pesticide exposure to childhood cancers, neurological damage, birth defects and prostate cancer. Young children, whose internal organs and systems are developing rapidly, are particularly vulnerable to pesticides' harmful effects, including quite possibly early onset of Parkinson's.
Government tests show that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables can retain up to 13 pesticides even after washing and cooking. Kale, for instance, is a super food to eat, but along with those leafy greens your family can gulp down a dose of pesticides if you don't buy organic. Pesticide residues don't wash off kale leaves, making it one of the dozen or so vegetables and fruits that carry the highest levels of pesticides (see "Buy the Organic Variety," below).
But there is some good news: According to a 15-day study conducted by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, children can eliminate their bodies' loads of agricultural pesticides by eating organically grown products. Researchers looked at a class of pesticides called organophosphates, which can cause problems in childhood neurological development.
Organic on a budget
Organic foods can cost more than nonorganic, sometimes 40 to 50 percent more. Here are some ways to stay within your budget while significantly reducing your pesticide load:
- Choose organic where it counts, such as when purchasing the items listed in the sidebar, whose conventionally grown versions contain the most pesticides.
- Choose low-fat organic or grass-fed milk and meat. Toxins tend to accumulate in animal fat.
- Wash all produce. Washing helps remove pesticides and bacteria introduced during handling and shipping.
- Steam leafy greens. Cooking vastly reduces pesticides and E. coli and retains most nutrients.
- Peel carrots, cucumbers, etc. This won't get at the systemic pesticides that are inside, but it will remove any that are on or in the skin.
- Buy local. Regional farms serving local markets can skip the harsh chemicals that are used on crops intended for distant markets. Local Harvest makes it easy to find local food outlets in your area.
- Buy frozen. Flash-freezing locks in nutrients. Use Local Harvest to find stores that sell frozen organic produce grown in your region.
- Make more meals from scratch using fresh, whole, local ingredients. You'll save money and avoid not only pesticides but also unhealthy additives like sugar, salt and fat.
Got a Minute? A Morning? A Month?
Kids in daycare and school may eat two-thirds of their meals away from home. Take these Simple Steps to help your child's school offer organic food.
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Comments
I live in a village and work in agriculturing. We produce organic foods and i try to read everything about them.
This information is very useful for me. I also found another useful guide about organic foods;
http://agricultureguide.org/agriculture/organic/
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