Buy Organic by Linda Pascatore © 2000 The Gobbler: Winter Thaw
There are many reasons to buy organic food. Most of the fruits and vegetables we buy in the supermarkets contain toxins which are harmful to our health. Many pesticides and other chemicals used to treat crops contain proven carcinogens, damage the immune system, and present various serious health risks. The so-called "safe" levels of these substances have been questioned by many scientists. These levels are based on the risk of acute toxicity, not on the cumulative effects. There is also research proving that some agrochemical can work in synergy with each other to produce effects that are hundreds of times greater than the effect of any one toxin. It has also been proven that the risk to young children from exposure to many of these chemicals is many times the risk to adults. The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit research organization which reports on the health risks from pesticides found in produce. They target a "dirty dozen"-- fruits and vegetables which present the highest risk. If you eliminate these 12 foods from your diet, you will cut your health risk 50%. The "dirty dozen" are strawberries, red and green bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, Mexican cantaloupes, celery, apples, apricots, green beans, Chilean grapes, and cucumbers. This list made me shudder at the amount of apples, applesauce, apple juice, and celery sticks I fed my children when they were young. In larger cities, organically grown produce and grocery items are readily available in large health food stores and even in some supermarket chains. In less populated areas, it is often more costly and difficult to obtain organic foods. If you are looking for a source of organically grown food, a good place to start is your local health food store. Even if the store is too small to offer organic produce, the staff is usually savy about local sources. Local organic farmers provide the freshest choice. There are small natural food buying clubs and cooperatives in almost every locale (see related article--Nature's Network). There are also several large national natural food companies from which individuals can mail order directly. Home |
