Pesticide Exposure from Food Products
ByWe are all familiar with the saying that ‘you are what you eat’ and never has that fact been more important than today. With all the news we hear regarding global warming and the environment more and more people are aware that everyday choices can make a big difference in their lives or the lives of their children.
This is especially true in choosing the foods we eat which are greatly impacted by the farming methods used to produce them. Is it worth buying organically grown foods instead of conventionally grown ones? Foods produced from conventional farming methods usually contain numerous chemical residues from the many pesticides and herbicides such farming utilizes. Organically grown foods should be free of pesticides and herbicides in order to be ‘certified organic’. It is certainly up to you to decide but a couple things to keep in mind regarding our food products and pesticide exposure in children.
- Shoppers Guide To Pesticides indicates that 96% of some fruits and 82% of some vegetables contain pesticide residue
- According to a report in Environmental Health Perspectives , blood samples of children aged 2 to 4, concentrations of pesticide residues are six times higher in children eating conventionally farmed fruits and vegetables compared with those eating organic foods.
Additional information regarding children and health can be found at the US EPA website America’s Children and The Environment.
Still not convinced that organic may be the way to go for you and your family in order to minimize pesticide exposure from the foods you eat? Then at the very least be sure to thoroughly clean your fruits and vegetables with a non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner prior to eating. This can help to remove at least some of the pesticide residue present on nearly all conventionally produced fruits and vegetables. Be aware and be proactive in helping to protect yourself and your family from the many environmental pollutants we face each day. It can certainly make a difference in your health and longevity.
Your Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!
6 Comments
May 10th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Agree totally with you John. Why add to the chemicals in the body when there are such easy ways to limit them and the damage they cause? Basic H is an incredible product with many, many uses. I use it for my windows and floors (just to mention a couple).
May 10th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Super info. It is good to know which fruits and veggies contain more pesticides and which ones contain the least.
May 11th, 2009 at 9:21 am
John,
I used to think it was to much trouble to search out organic…And many people think it costs more ( and occasionally it does), but it is information such as you share that makes me committed to this process.
Like you, I use Basic H to clean all my vegetables ( including the organic ones ) and I feel certain I have a great product that is safe and healthy.
You are doing a great job of informing us of the truth. Thanks, Kathi
May 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Speaking of the Basic H we use it not only to wash veggies we brought at the store but also use it in our own organic garden. It works great in keeping many of those nasty plant eating bugs at bay. Something to do with it being a surfactant, making water wetter, it messes with the oil on insects skin. And if you work it in the soil, the dirt stays wet longer and the plants grow better.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:39 am
John, thanks for the great insite into what is really going on with our food supply. I will be more caution in the future and will read labels and ask questions.
May 26th, 2009 at 10:55 am
John, The older you gets the more you realize how important it is to eat the best foods you can find. Organic foods taste better as well as being better for you. Thanks for the great information.