| As we learn more about food and the toxins | | | | "chemical body burden" and has been linked to |
| that can often be found in our food, it is | | | | developmental delays, motor dysfunction, and |
| becoming clear that simply eating more | | | | behavioral disorders. |
| fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is not | | | | |
| the only way to improve a diet. The purity of | | | | GMOs or genetically modified organisms can |
| the food that you are eating also needs to be | | | | also have negative health impacts. Genetic |
| taken into consideration. The way that food | | | | engineering in food began in order to try to |
| is grown or raised can have an impact on your | | | | increase the benefits that can be found in |
| health. | | | | certain types of fruits and vegetables. |
| | | | Beginning in 1994, genetically engineered |
| What's the difference between conventional | | | | foods could be found in supermarkets. The |
| food and organic food? | | | | possible negative health effects associated |
| | | | with GMOs include new or unknown allergies, |
| The main difference between conventional food | | | | decreased levels of nutrition, increased |
| and organic food is the way the food is grown | | | | levels the toxins and antibiotic resistance. |
| and processed. Conventional food can contain | | | | |
| chemicals from fertilizers and insecticides, | | | | As concern over food-borne illness has |
| but they are grown with natural fertilizers, | | | | increased, many countries have approved food |
| crop rotation, and animals are given space to | | | | irradiation, which is the exposure of food to |
| roam freely. There are legal standards that | | | | a small amount of radiation in order to kill |
| need to be met in order for food to be marked | | | | bacteria, such as E.coli and Salmonella. |
| organic. These standards include: | | | | During the radiation, the food is exposed to |
| | | | known carcinogens, but the risks to the |
| - The food must be grown in soil that does | | | | consumer are still unknown. |
| not contain chemicals including, sewage | | | | |
| sludge, potassium chloride, or lead salts. | | | | What are the benefits of eating organic |
| The soil must be free of such chemicals for | | | | foods? |
| at least three years before the first organic | | | | |
| harvest. | | | | Not only do organic foods eliminate the |
| | | | dangers posed by pesticides, GMOs, and |
| - Food cannot be modified in any way. This | | | | irradiation, but they also provide additional |
| includes use of GMOs (genetically modified | | | | health benefits of their own. |
| organisms), irradiation and additives. | | | | |
| | | | - They contain more antioxidants than |
| - They must be kept separate from non-organic | | | | conventional foods. Pesticides used in the |
| food through all of the stages of growing and | | | | growing of conventional food reduce the |
| processing. | | | | plant's chemicals that create antioxidants. |
| | | | |
| - Organic livestock must be fed food that is | | | | - They have higher levels of magnesium, iron, |
| 100 percent organic. | | | | calcium, and vitamin C, among other |
| | | | nutrients. |
| - The animals must have access to the | | | | |
| outdoors, including room for appropriate | | | | Where can I buy organic foods? |
| exercise. | | | | |
| | | | They can be found in most supermarkets or |
| What are the negative effects of pesticides | | | | groceries. Ask your grocer if your store |
| in conventional food? | | | | carries organic food. If not, they may be |
| | | | able to begin to order more or direct you to |
| Mount Sinai School of Medicine conducted a | | | | a nearby store that does carry organic foods. |
| study that tested for pollutants in the human | | | | Once you start eating these foods, you will |
| body. An average of 84 chemicals was found in | | | | be well on your way to an improved diet that |
| an individual's blood, some of which had been | | | | will leave you feeling healthier than ever! |
| outlawed for years. This is known as the | | | | |