| It is hardly surprising that chemicals strong enough | | | | developing brain and nervous system, as well as |
| to kill insects and plant infections can be harmful | | | | potential carcinogens that some researchers |
| to the human body and environment. There are | | | | believe can be a particular risk to children and |
| literally hundreds of permitted pesticides, | | | | adolescents during periods of high growth and |
| insectisides, fungicides, hormones, antibiotics and | | | | breast development. The Benefits of Organic |
| other chemical additives present in non-organic | | | | Foods |
| food, not to mention food additives and | | | | Organic fruits and vegetables grown from clean, |
| flavourings introduced after cultivation and in food | | | | natural soil with a rich and balanced mineral |
| processing. All important reasons for eating | | | | content, are not only free from chemical |
| organic food. | | | | contaminants, but win hands down with regard to |
| Over 3,000 high-risk toxins are present in the US | | | | flavour and offer a fuller range of nutrients. |
| food supply, which by law are excluded from | | | | Non-organic equivalents contain more water and |
| organic food. These include 73 pesticides classified | | | | less vitamins and minerals. Danish research |
| by the Environmental Protection Agency as | | | | published in the August 2003 issue of the Journal |
| potential carcinogens. Pesticides also leak into the | | | | of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed |
| water supply - for example, a 1996 study by the | | | | significantly higher amounts of flavonoids in the |
| Environmental Working Group found 96 per cent | | | | urine and blood samples of those on an |
| of all water samples taken from 748 towns | | | | organically-grown as opposed to |
| across the US contained the pesticide atrazine. | | | | conventionally-grown diet. |
| Toxic metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury | | | | 10 reasons to go organic. |
| enter the food supply through industrial pollution of | | | | The Soil Association, a UK-based registered |
| soil and groundwater and through machinery used | | | | charity and organic certifying body, lists 10 |
| in the processing and packaging of foods. For | | | | reasons for going organic. These are: |
| example, lead solder used to seal tin cans imparts | | | | 1. To protect future generations |
| residue into the food, despite the adversity to | | | | 2. To pay the real cost of real food |
| health. Cadmium has links with lung, prostate and | | | | 3. To have an independent guarantee |
| testicular cancer and mercury is toxic to brain | | | | 4. to protect water quality |
| cells and has been linked to autism and Alzheimer's | | | | 5. To enjoy greater flavour and nutrition |
| disease. Heavy metals damage nerve function, | | | | 6. To keep chemicals off your plate |
| block haemoglobin production causing anaemia and | | | | 7. To reduce global warming and save energy |
| contribute to lower IQ and diseases such as | | | | 8. To prevent soil erosion |
| multiple sclerosis. Organic food safe-guard's against | | | | 9. To help small farmers |
| toxic metals. | | | | 10. To help restore biodiversity |
| Solvents are also used in commercially processed | | | | 12 Best and Worst Non-Organic Foods: |
| foods which can damage white blood cells, | | | | It might not always be possible to get the |
| lowering immune defence. Further, the solvents | | | | organically grown fruit and vegetables you desire, |
| benzene and toluene, have known links with | | | | in which case, the Environmental Working Group |
| numerous cancers. | | | | have highlighted the 12 cleanest and 12 riskiest |
| Produce imported from developing countries may | | | | non-organic foods as listed below. |
| contain agrochemicals that have been outlawed in | | | | 12 Cleanest non-organic foods: |
| developed countries. | | | | Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, |
| Cell health | | | | Cauliflower, Corn (though avoid genetically |
| Other agricultural chemicals have been found to | | | | modified corn), Kiwi, Mangoes, Onions, Papaya, |
| be deleterious to cell health, such as PCP | | | | Pineapples, Peas |
| (pentachlorophenol) that can cause DNA | | | | 12 riskiest non-organic foods: |
| fragmentation in animals, as well as numerous | | | | Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Cherries, Grapes, |
| other chemicals found to damage cellular | | | | Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Raspberries, |
| membranes and negatively effect the functioning | | | | Spinach, Strawberries |
| of mitochondria. These include the insecticide | | | | Organic superfoods |
| endosulfan and the herbicide paraquat, as well as | | | | As well as changing to organic food in your diet, |
| chemicals 2-4-D, prathion and dinoseb. Pesticides | | | | be sure to add plenty of superfoods! Superfoods |
| such as chlopyrifos, endrin and fenthion have been | | | | are the kings and queens of the plant kingdom |
| shown to over stimulate certain enzymes | | | | with miraculous benefits - the most potent, anti |
| involved in chemical signalling, causing imbalance | | | | aging, antioxidant rich, nutrient dense, disease |
| that has been linked to inflammatory conditions, | | | | fighting, beautifying, immune boosting, mood |
| psoriasis and atherosclerosis. | | | | enhancing foods on the planet! |
| Children at risk | | | | These include organic vegetables like spinach and |
| Organic foods may be vitally important to protect | | | | brocolli that may already feature in your diet, to |
| children from the damaging effects of these toxic | | | | more unusual foods, like bee pollen, goji berries or |
| contaminants. Two separate reports, from the | | | | coconut oil. Organic coconut oil can actually speed |
| Natural Resources Defence Council (1989) and the | | | | up your metabolism and help you loose weight! It |
| Environmental Working Group (1998), revealed | | | | is also anti-microbial and fights against bacteria, |
| that millions of American children were exposed | | | | viruses and funghi. There are numerous other |
| to levels of pesticides from food that exceeded | | | | superfoods, from the more common to unusual |
| limits considered to be safe. These include | | | | members of the plant kingdom. |
| neuro-toxins that can be hazardous to the | | | | |