Why eat organic food?

[Guest guest]

Why Eat Organic Food? The Benefits of Organic Food and the Dangers of

Non-Organic

Food

It is hardly surprising that chemicals strong enough to kill insects and plant

infections can

be harmful to the human body and environment. There are literally hundreds of

permitted

pesticides, insectisides, fungicides, hormones, antibiotics and other chemical

additives

present in non-organic food, not to mention food additives and flavourings

introduced

after cultivation and in food processing. All important reasons for eating

organic food.

Over 3,000 high-risk toxins are present in the US food supply, which by law are

excluded

from organic food. These include 73 pesticides classified by the Environmental

Protection

Agency as potential carcinogens. Pesticides also leak into the water supply -

for example,

a 1996 study by the Environmental Working Group found 96 per cent of all water

samples

taken from 748 towns across the US contained the pesticide atrazine.

Toxic metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury enter the food supply through

industrial

pollution of soil and groundwater and through machinery used in the processing

and

packaging of foods. For example, lead solder used to seal tin cans imparts

residue into the

food, despite the adversity to health. Cadmium has links with lung, prostate and

testicular

cancer and mercury is toxic to brain cells and has been linked to autism and

Alzheimer's

disease. Heavy metals damage nerve function, block haemoglobin production

causing

anaemia and contribute to lower IQ and diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Organic food

safe-guard's against toxic metals.

Solvents are also used in commercially processed foods which can damage white

blood

cells, lowering immune defence. Further, the solvents benzene and toluene, have

known

links with numerous cancers.

Produce imported from developing countries may contain agrochemicals that have

been

outlawed in developed countries.

Cell health

Other agricultural chemicals have been found to be deleterious to cell health,

such as PCP

(pentachlorophenol) that can cause DNA fragmentation in animals, as well as

numerous

other chemicals found to damage cellular membranes and negatively effect the

functioning

of mitochondria. These include the insecticide endosulfan and the herbicide

paraquat, as

well as chemicals 2-4-D, prathion and dinoseb. Pesticides such as chlopyrifos,

endrin and

fenthion have been shown to over stimulate certain enzymes involved in chemical

signalling, causing imbalance that has been linked to inflammatory conditions,

psoriasis

and atherosclerosis.

Children at risk

Organic foods may be vitally important to protect children from the damaging

effects of

these toxic contaminants. Two separate reports, from the Natural Resources

Defence

Council (1989) and the Environmental Working Group (1998), revealed that

millions of

American children were exposed to levels of pesticides from food that exceeded

limits

considered to be safe. These include neuro-toxins that can be hazardous to the

developing brain and nervous system, as well as potential carcinogens that some

researchers believe can be a particular risk to children and adolescents during

periods of

high growth and breast development. The Benefits of Organic Foods

Organic fruits and vegetables grown from clean, natural soil with a rich and

balanced

mineral content, are not only free from chemical contaminants, but win hands

down with

regard to flavour and offer a fuller range of nutrients. Non-organic equivalents

contain

more water and less vitamins and minerals. Danish research published in the

August 2003

issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed significantly

higher

amounts of flavonoids in the urine and blood samples of those on an

organically-grown as

opposed to conventionally-grown diet.

10 reasons to go organic.

The Soil Association, a UK-based registered charity and organic certifying body,

lists 10

reasons for going organic. These are:

1. To protect future generations

2. To pay the real cost of real food

3. To have an independent guarantee

4. to protect water quality

5. To enjoy greater flavour and nutrition

6. To keep chemicals off your plate

7. To reduce global warming and save energy

8. To prevent soil erosion

9. To help small farmers

10. To help restore biodiversity

12 Best and Worst Non-Organic Foods:

It might not always be possible to get the organically grown fruit and

vegetables you

desire, in which case, the Environmental Working Group have highlighted the 12

cleanest

and 12 riskiest non-organic foods as listed below.

12 Cleanest non-organic foods:

Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Corn (though avoid

genetically

modified corn), Kiwi, Mangoes, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples, Peas

12 riskiest non-organic foods:

Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Cherries, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears,

Potatoes,

Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries

Organic superfoods

As well as changing to organic food in your diet, be sure to add plenty of

superfoods!

Superfoods are the kings and queens of the plant kingdom with miraculous

benefits - the

most potent, anti aging, antioxidant rich, nutrient dense, disease fighting,

beautifying,

immune boosting, mood enhancing foods on the planet!

These include organic vegetables like spinach and brocolli that may already

feature in your

diet, to more unusual foods, like bee pollen, goji berries or coconut oil.

Organic coconut

oil can actually speed up your metabolism and help you loose weight! It is also

anti-

microbial and fights against bacteria, viruses and funghi. There are numerous

other

superfoods, from the more common to unusual members of the plant kingdom

http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Sylvia-Riley-945/organic-10079.php

[Guest guest]

Will, thank you for this informative and important post. I always

insist on Organic AND 100% grass-fed dairy and meat for these reasons.

Carson taught us many years ago how animals stored the toxins and

pollutants in their fat, and concentrate it there. Each level up the

food chain concentrates the toxins to a higher degree. We and our

children are at the top of the food chain. This was one of the big

reasons early vegetarians gave for giving up meat. Now that we know fat

from grass fed animals is good for us, we need to be vigilant that it is

clean. What good is omega-3s, with toxins attached to it?? Toxins

have long have lives and stay in the soil for many years, that is why

the Minimum Organic standards is a three year transition time before the

mother of a future organic calf grazes on it while in her third

trimester.

Not perfect, but better than none!

Jan

www.blackberryridgellc.com

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