Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or deter pest from plants and produce as they grow. Pesticides are toxic. When you eat fruits and vegetables, you’re also ingesting a small portion of toxic chemicals too. The same is true for animals raised for commercial consumption that graze on and eat crops grown using pesticides. Human consumption of non-organically grown meat and poultry compounds human exposure to pesticides and herbicides.
For this reason, more and more people are choosing organic fruits and vegetables, which is why non-specialty grocers such as Lowe’s Foods, Food Lion, and Harris Teeter are beefing up their selections of organic fruits and vegetables. Whole Foods Market in Winston-Salem tends to provide the best variety and is the most competitively priced.
The USDA says that the amounts used on foods are regulated to reduce the risk of health problems. Although toxic, ingesting one drop of acid may not be deadly to an adult, but would you want to put that in your body?
Regional Children’s Environmental Health Summit in Colorado performed a study on the effects of pesticide exposure on learning and development in children who lived in areas where an abundance of pesticides were used. They discovered the children exposed to areas where greater amounts of pesticides were used had lower IQs and cognitive skills. The findings were independent of parents IQs and socio-economic statuses. Years of pesticide exposure can cause slow or delayed developmental growth in young children, behavioral problems, behavioral disorders and diminished motor skills.
Organically grown produce does not contain pesticides. To reduce the amount of pesticides ingested, fruits and vegetables can be peeled. However, as you peel, you are also removing essential fiber and nutrients. While most non-organic fruit and vegetables contain pesticides, there are some which are more disease and pest resistant, requiring fewer chemicals during the growing and harvest season which would render them safer among non-organic fruits and vegetables.
For a healthier digestive system, shop for organic fruit and vegetables that require higher concentrations of chemicals when they are grown. Fruit and vegetables that tend to require the most pesticides and herbicides include:
- Bell Peppers (green, purple, red, yellow)
Produce that requires the least amount of chemicals include the following, and are considered safer among the non-organic fruit and vegetables:
- Green peas
Be aware of the foods choose for you and your family. Teach children about pesticides and how to choose healthier varieties. A small amount of pesticide in food doesn’t change the fact that it’s still pesticide or make it less toxic.
Sources: United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Library, Colorado Regional Children’s Environmental Health