Food Choices Made Easy: Consumer Report's Handy Guide

I read an article in Consumer Reports, “Pesticides in Produce”, which is about pesticides in conventional or commercial farming and the organic approach to growing and protecting fruits and vegetables.

The article is well worth reading and covers many aspects of pesticides, including the risks of conventional foods and how to shop for fresh produce, including organic produce. There is even a printable chart included with the article to take with you when shopping for produce.

I agree with Consumer Reports that “organic is best.” Organic foods support our “Let’s Get Healthy” vision. When you consume “conventional” food, you are eating food that was grown using chemical fertilizers in the soil. “Conventional” also implies that the plants are sprayed with chemicals, as well, in order to ensure that insects, bugs and fungus don’t destroy them. However, creatures are being physically harmed by the chemicals, including us.

Two really important but not well-known facts brought out in this article are that some produce items may have residues of multiple pesticides and that pesticides affect children more than adults.

A single herbicide, pesticide, fungicide or other chemical may be deemed safe according to a government agency, but the reality is that when two or three chemicals come together they may produce a negative synergistic effect on the body in more ways than one.

Children are the most susceptible to pesticides because of the size of their bodies and the amount of chemicals entering them. They are still developing and growing, and elements entering their bodies effect their organ development, including their brain and nervous systems. The EPA has also warned about the pesticide dangers to children.

A good approach to a diet for yourself and your family is to increase salads and use organic veggies. Remember to include organic fruit and wash all produce with cold running water.

Related: Previous blog posts Detox Before You Diet and Cleansing the Liver.

The detoxification process in the body requires iron, zinc, manganese and molybdenum. You may want to re-examine your diet and take supplements, if necessary, to ensure the detoxification process is able to handle the toxins coming into the body. You may want to do a detox and cleanse occasionally just to get more of the toxins removed that may be stored in your body.

What you can do: Read the Consumer Reports article “Pesticides in Produce”. Print out the chart provided there and use it while you shop for produce to minimize exposure to pesticides.  Grow some of your own food.  Some things are especially easy to grow.  Also, consider a detox/cleanse now and then (4 times a year is good).  This can help your body remove chemical residues from the tissues. Remember, fruits and vegetables do double duty: they help you minimize exposure when you eat organic and give you many of the nutrients needed by the detox processes of the body.

What else can you do?  Give us your ideas in the comments section.