- Article You May Be Interested In

[Guest guest]

, I was reading thru some posts from the last several days. And

I can't remember for sure, but weren't you looking for hard copy

articles on the dangers of P/H milk? Or was it articles on true cases

of healing with Raw milk? I can't remember and don't have the time

to find your question. Anyway, I subscribe to AOL and this was on

the *front page*. There is a blurb midway down about hormones in

milk:

" Bovine growth hormone, given to dairy cows, may well be harmless to

us in itself, but it makes cows produce more of a second hormone that

some research suggests might raise the risk of certain cancers. "

I know it's a little bit long, but I'm posting the whole article

below, because knowing AOL, sometimes these are hard to pull up in

the future.

Rhonda

Here's the whole article:

http://parenting.aol.com/parenting/onlyonaol/child/article/0,19840,106

2400,00.html

Child Article BrowseArticle

Organics: Are They Worth It?

A guide to deciding what to buy for your family

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By Balmain

Organic grapes: $2.99 a pound. Organic milk: $3.59 a half gallon.

Organic peanut butter: $4.89 a jar. Which — if any — are worth the

extra money?

Some experts say the answer's simple: You needn't spend a cent on

organics, because all foods and drinks are kept safe by strict

government standards. But many doctors and researchers recommend

organics because harsh pesticides, artificial hormones, and

antibiotics aren't used to produce them. And some people think

organic food just tastes better.

More study is needed before it's clear how organics can make families

healthier. For now, the most important thing is to feed your kids a

variety of whole grains, fresh produce, and other nutritious stuff —

organic or not.

A good rule of thumb for organic foods, from Environmental Working

Group, a research and advocacy organization in Washington, DC: Choose

organic versions of things your kids eat all the time. More to help

you decide whether to buy organics:

Fruits and veggies

Conventional produce — fresh or frozen — is generally higher in

pesticides than any other food group. There's no proof that such

residues harm children or fetuses. But since studies suggest that

overall exposure to pesticides (through air, water, and food)

threatens our health and development, many experts advise lowering

your exposure any way you can. Organic produce has few or no strong

pesticides, and may contain more nutrients such as vitamin C,

flavonoids, and zinc.

Worth buying organic? Yes, to avoid produce that's heaviest in

pesticides: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes,

nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and

strawberries. For more info, see http://www.foodnews.org/.

Fruit juice, applesauce, and dried fruit

Juice and applesauce are much lower in pesticides than the fruits

they're made from. But many kids consume so much of both that their

exposure levels concern researchers. Ditto for raisins and other

dried fruit, which may develop concentrated pesticide residues in the

drying process.

Worth buying organic? Only if your child's a heavy drinker of 100

percent fruit juice or really loves applesauce and dried fruit.

(Fruit " drinks, " " cocktails, " " punches, " and " ades " are basically

sugar water, so organics don't offer any advantage.)

Meat, dairy, and eggs

Meat and dairy are relatively low in pesticides, but they contain

hormones and antibiotics (at levels the government says are safe).

Bovine growth hormone, given to dairy cows, may well be harmless to

us in itself, but it makes cows produce more of a second hormone that

some research suggests might raise the risk of certain cancers.

Antibiotic residues are so slight that they probably won't affect

your family directly, but their massive use on farms helps spawn drug-

resistant bacteria that can reach us — through undercooked burgers,

for instance. Those bacteria share their resistance with other bugs,

making antibiotics less effective for people. Organics contain

neither hormones nor antibiotics.

Organic meats also are required to be free of potentially harmful

artificial preservatives like nitrates or nitrites, which are in hot

dogs and some deli meats.

Beyond that, there's no clear nutritional bonus to organic meats,

dairy, and eggs unless they come from grass-fed cattle or pastured

poultry, which may contain more healthy ingredients such as omega-3

fatty acids and vitamin E. (To find them near you, go to

http://www.eatwild.com/products/index.htm.)

Worth buying organic? Yes, if your child eats a lot of nitrate-heavy

meats, or you're concerned about the possible risk of hormones and

the state of antibiotic resistance.

Baby food

Most baby foods, from purees to juices to teething biscuits, have few

or no pesticide residues, synthetic hormones, or antibiotics.

Worth buying organic? No.

Bread, cereal, and pasta

Grains tend to have lower pesticide residues than produce, but

organic versions may provide more fiber and nutrients because they

are less processed.

Worth buying organic? Less so than other food groups. (And if your

child's eating any whole grains — even nonorganic ones — that's a

coup!)

Other ways to make meals safer

If you don't buy organics, these steps can help lighten pesticide

residues and other risks.

Wash produce (including organics) thoroughly in running water — even

thick-skinned fruits such as melons, since cutting an unwashed rind

can contaminate a fruit's insides.

Choose skim or low-fat milk and lean meats whenever possible.

Pesticides and pollutants such as dioxin (which is also found in

organics) tend to be concentrated in fat.

There's no such thing as organic fish, but you can lower your

exposure to toxins by removing skin and draining fat. If your kids

like tuna, stick to " light " canned tuna, rather than albacore,

or " white, " which has more mercury.