For those of us who love our fruits and veggies, nothing is more
exciting than walking into a freshly stocked produce aisle. It can look
like a veritable Garden of Eden with its tempting assortment of
colorful and vibrant produce. A stroll down this aisle is almost
comforting, like we intuitively know we are home. The food is alive and
healthy and as we pile it into our grocery carts, we can feel a brief
sense of relief from the guilt we invariably feel as we also load in
the sugary treats lining the shelves five aisles over. A trade off we
tell ourselves.
But is this bountiful selection of nature's best really healthy for us?
Should we be concerned about commercially grown produce and the
chemicals we know are being used to increase not only the size and
aesthetic quality of our food but also its shelf life? We are
constantly told to "eat organic", is this really necessary? Simply
looking at a ripe, red tomato or a brilliant yellow summer squash for
instance, often reveals no clues. In fact, the organic version can look
much smaller and in many cases, even disfigured. And let us not forget
the price - our organic friends can be almost double the cost in some
cases. So, why are we constantly urged to buy organic?
Years ago, (and we are talking many at this point), long before we
began spraying our crops with pesticides and other chemicals or
genetically modifying them to create bigger, better versions,
everything was essentially considered organic. It came from the earth,
it was natural therefore it was organic. Simple. Well, unfortunately,
it's not so simple today.
Let's look at pesticides for example. While conventional producers
argue the amount of pesticides used in farming are essentially
infinitesimal, causing no health risks to consumers, the bottom line is
pesticides are toxic any way you look at it. And unfortunately, Canada
misses the mark when it comes to protecting its consumers from these
often-deadly chemicals. Currently, 50 pesticides known to cause adverse
human health effects such as cancer, acute toxicity, interference with
hormonal systems, developmental disorders, reproductive problems and
organ damage are registered for use in Canada, despite being banned in
other countries. In June 2007, the David Suzuki Foundation released a
report called Northern Exposure: Acute Pesticide Poisonings in Canada,
which revealed thousands of Canadians are acutely poisoned by
pesticides each year, children under 6 being at the highest risk. While
these poisonings resulted after exposure to a single dose of pesticide,
typically through inhalation, eating, drinking, or direct contact with
eyes or skin, it is a definite indication of the extreme toxicity of
these chemicals. As of June 18, 2008, Ontario passed the Cosmetic
Pesticide Ban Act, prohibiting the sale and use of pesticides on lawns
and gardens in that province. Currently however, Quebec is the only
province to restrict cosmetic pesticide sales (the Ontario ban doesn't
go into effect until 2009).
Studies do also show however, that even legally allowed levels of
pesticides on the food we eat can and do cause neurotoxic effects on
developing animals, including such things as fewer nerve cells, smaller
birth weights and lower cognitive scores. Studies further show
pesticides in a woman's bloodstream can be passed to the fetus. In
2005, one study specifically looked at the umbilical-cord blood of 10
children, finding 21 pesticides easily crossed the placenta. Despite
this knowledge and countless other studies pointing to the dangers of
pesticide use, Canadian standards for pesticide residue on food are
still far less protective than those in countries such as Europe and
Australia. While more studies are being done on these toxic chemicals
each year, according to a 2006 Consumer Reports article, we continue to
consume small amounts of more than 30 pesticides each day when eating
"healthy" foods.
Since a complete ban by government on all pesticides is extremely
unlikely, as consumers, and more importantly, as parents, it becomes
increasingly necessary for us to protect ourselves from these toxins.
The best way to do that is to eat organic. In fact, one study supported
by the US Environmental Protection Agency measured pesticide levels in
the urine of 23 children in Washington State both before and after
switching to an organic diet. This 2005 study revealed that after
eating organic food for five consecutive days, specific markers used to
detect commonly used pesticides decreased to undetectable levels and
remained that way until conventional foods were reintroduced.
Researchers concluded, "An organic diet provides a dramatic and
immediate protective effect against such pesticide exposure".
And our produce is not the only problem. Natural and synthetic hormones
and steroids used to increase the growth rate of Canadian livestock are
also becoming a real health issue for consumers. Studies show these
synthetic growth hormones are not only carcinogenic but continued
exposure to them may be linked to the unusually early onset of puberty
we are now seeing in young girls. European nations banned the use and
importation of beef containing steroids in 1989, but these hormones are
still extensively used in the US and Canada.
The prolific use of antibiotics is another big health concern we are
facing. Farmers routinely use antibiotics to not only increase an
animal's growth rate but also to deal with the numerous health issues
arising as a result of overcrowded and unsanitary pens. Because of this
overuse, many antibiotic-resistant bacteria are now cropping up, which
means many of the antibiotics we used in the past to kill specific
bacteria, no longer work. The issue has become so critical The World
Health Organization (WHO) called for a stop to the routine use of
antibiotics in animal feed. One study published in 2001, showed that by
the 1990s, US farmers alone were feeding their livestock more than 10
million pounds of antibiotics a year, an increase of over 300 percent
from the 1980s. It is further estimated more than 90 percent of these
antibiotics are used simply to promote weight gain.
Because of the vast number of chemicals, hormones and antibiotics now
being used in the farming industry, the government sets specific
standards for foods labeled organic. While these foods are definitely
more expensive depending on what and where you buy them, you can be
assured they are safer than conventional foods. Often however, it is
simply not feasible to buy only organic so we must pick and choose what
organic foods to buy. Studies show certain foods pose more of a risk
than others purely because they are known to contain more chemicals.
So, if you can buy these foods organically as much as possible, you can
help reduce the amount of toxins you ingest.
Foods That Tend to Be Higher in Pesticides, Hormones and Antibiotics (Always try to Buy Organic)
Peaches
Apples
Strawberries
Nectarines
Pears
Cherries
Raspberries
Imported Grapes
Plums
Lettuce and Spinach
Bell Peppers
Celery
Potatoes
Carrots
Green beans
Cucumber
Hot Peppers
Meat (beef, chicken, pork, and turkey)
Eggs
Dairy products
Coffee (coffee is typically grown in countries where chemicals are not strictly regulated)
Foods That Tend To Be Safer (Don't Necessarily Need to Buy Organic)
Cynthia McMurray is a freelance
natural health writer. She has written numerous books for leading
health professionals and was the founder and publisher of a national
natural health magazine. She is currently writing in-depth health
manuals for a large international health and wellness company.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
