Go Organic?

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Healthy eating is a good start towards a healthier life. And how foods are grown or raised can have an impact on our health.

However, Dr. Dena Bravata, a senior research affiliate at Stanford University, found that organic foods are no better than conventional foods. Some organic foods have only slightly elevated nutrient value. This is a great contrary to our belief.

Actually, the discrepancy is due to the fact that many organic crops now are not tested before they are certified and real organic farmers fill only a small minority share of the organic food market. Organic are not really organic.

Organic crops are grown in safe soil, have no modifications and must remain separate from conventional products. And farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. And so these are good for children and pregnant women as they are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure.

Pesticide exposure can cause children have developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction. This is because of their less-developed immune systems and because their bodies and brains are still developing. In case of pregnant women, its bad effects would pass on to the baby.

Moreover, the use of antibiotics in conventional meat production helps create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. This means that when adults get sick from these strains, they will be less responsive to antibiotic treatment. Also, if we do not not feed these animal byproducts to other animals, it would reduce the risk of mad cow disease (BSE).

The following fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide levels. Because of their high pesticide levels when conventionally grown, it is best to buy these organic:

• Grapes
• Apples
• Bell Peppers
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cherries
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Strawberries

On the other hand, the following fruits and vegetables were found to have the lowest levels of pesticides. Most of these have thicker skin or peel, which naturally protects them better from pests, and which also means their production does not require the use of as many pesticides.

• Asparagus
• Onion
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Water melon
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Corn (sweet)
• Peas (sweet)
• Tomatoes
• Sweet Potatoes
• Kiwi
• Mango
• Broccoli