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Healthy Foods: Benefits Eating Organic
7 Reasons to Go Organic
Research shows that you can improve your health and the environment by supporting organic practices
By
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Organic Eating 101
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1
Organic fruits and veggies are nutritionally rich
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2
Organic agriculture reduces our exposure to harmful pesticides
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3
Organic meat and dairy may contain more healthy fats
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4
Organic farming protects the environment
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5
Organic products are processed without hormones or antibiotics
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6
Organic foods don’t contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
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7
Organic practices support animal welfare
Organic agriculture reduces our exposure to harmful pesticides
“If you can afford it, I would seek produce without chemical fertilizers,” says Judy Caplan, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to some of the synthetic fertilizers used on some crops can be hazardous to human health.
The findings about the potential risks of pesticide exposure are far-reaching and, frankly, frightening. A 2008 study published in the BMC Neurology Journal found that people exposed to pesticides were 1.6 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who were not. Similarly, exposure to pesticides has been linked to ADHD and may interfere with women’s hormones, according to recent studies.
Eat Organic On a Budget
Because organic agriculture does not use pesticides, buying organic supports a system that reduces overall exposure to pesticides. In fact, in 2010 the President’s Cancer Panel stated that “Exposure to environmental contaminants can result in harm to health because they may alter or interfere with a variety of biologic processes, including hormone production and function, DNA damage, and gene expression or suppression” and advised Americans to choose food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Apples are some of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables, according to a 2011 report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), with nearly 98 percent testing positive for pesticides. Celery, strawberries, peaches, and spinach are a few other types of high-in-pesticides produce that the EWG urges people to buy organic.
The findings about the potential risks of pesticide exposure are far-reaching and, frankly, frightening. A 2008 study published in the BMC Neurology Journal found that people exposed to pesticides were 1.6 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who were not. Similarly, exposure to pesticides has been linked to ADHD and may interfere with women’s hormones, according to recent studies.
Eat Organic On a Budget
Because organic agriculture does not use pesticides, buying organic supports a system that reduces overall exposure to pesticides. In fact, in 2010 the President’s Cancer Panel stated that “Exposure to environmental contaminants can result in harm to health because they may alter or interfere with a variety of biologic processes, including hormone production and function, DNA damage, and gene expression or suppression” and advised Americans to choose food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Apples are some of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables, according to a 2011 report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), with nearly 98 percent testing positive for pesticides. Celery, strawberries, peaches, and spinach are a few other types of high-in-pesticides produce that the EWG urges people to buy organic.
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