We 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!