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Is Spending the Money on Organic Food A Good Investment?

December 17, 2007

The most important reason to buy organic foods is to avoid the pesticides. Pesticides are chemicals that are used as prevent “pests” such as insects, to live on your food. The pesticides are poisons. Products labeled as Organic are grown in soil that has not been treated with pesticides, chemical fertilizers or sewage. Unfortunately, pesticides are used ubiquitously in this country and elsewhere. Pesticides are poisonous, and also potential cancer-causing, or carcinogenic. They can interfere with hormones and may disrupt the immune system.
 
Children eat two-to-four times more fruits and vegetables relative to their body weight. Therefore, their potential exposure to pesticides is greater than an adult’s. Unfortunately, this exposure is taking place when their organs and bones are still growing and maturing, and the toxins can accumulate over the course of their development. In the Environmental Working Group’s report on “Pesticides in Children’s Food,”
(www.EWG.org) they noted that a person’s carcinogenic risk from pesticides occurs at the highest rate during the childhood years.
 
Buying organic food is not only more expensive, it can be time consuming to find. However, the benefits of avoiding pesticides whenever possible is clearly important. Below is a list of foods highest in pesticide concentration. Pick your battles!!

Posted by NatalieGeary, MD | Filed Under Dr Geary 

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