| Had any yummy pesticides lately? Don't you | | | | appreciate), organic fruits and vegetables usually |
| imagine future generations might someday look | | | | taste better than commercially grown varieties. |
| back on our civilization and wonder why we | | | | Some commercially raised fruits and vegetables |
| sprayed poison on our food and then ate it? | | | | have been found by the Environmental Working |
| Demand for organic, pesticide-free food is | | | | Group to contain particularly high levels of |
| increasing rapidly - and for good reason! Pesticides | | | | chemical residues. So, at the very least, do your |
| are designed to kill living organisms and are | | | | best to buy pesticide-free apples, apricots, |
| therefore a threat to human health. The National | | | | cherries, grapes, peaches and strawberries, as |
| Cancer Institute states that 30% of insecticides, | | | | well as bell peppers, celery, cucumbers, green |
| 60% of herbicides and 90% of fungicides are | | | | beans and spinach. |
| known to cause cancer. And that's just one | | | | It makes both good health and good financial |
| negative side effect. These chemicals can also | | | | sense to buy organic, pesticide-free whenever |
| lead to damage of both the nervous and | | | | possible. This not only includes produce, but also |
| hormonal systems. | | | | meat, fish, poultry and dairy products. All animal |
| Children are even more vulnerable than adults to | | | | foods are best raised free-ranging, organically fed |
| the dangers of agricultural toxins. After all, kids | | | | and free from hormones. |
| consume a higher percentage in relation to their | | | | Because of consumer demand, many |
| size. According to a study published in | | | | supermarkets now carry a few organic foods. |
| Environmental Health Perspectives, children fed | | | | You can also often find pesticide-free fruits and |
| conventional supermarket produce had six to nine | | | | vegetables, and sometimes even organically raised |
| times higher levels of pesticides in their blood than | | | | meat, poultry or dairy, at good prices from local |
| those fed organic foods. | | | | farmers or through community food co-ops. Ask |
| Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without | | | | around. And, if you can't find a co-op, consider |
| the use of artificial fertilizers, chemical toxins and | | | | starting one. |
| genetically modified organisms. They're not only | | | | Who knows, in years to come, future generations |
| safer, but they're also more nutritious because of | | | | may look back at those who choose poison-free |
| higher vitamin and mineral concentrations. That | | | | food and say, "Well, there were at least SOME |
| means you get more for your money. And, (this | | | | smart people back then! |
| is the part you and your family will especially | | | | |