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When to Buy Organic

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:30:23 -0700

I like to think most of us would like to buy local and organic foods 100 percent of the time, but it means paying extra, which a lot of us can't always do. A good compromise is choosing organic when it makes the most sense for our health.

Here's our recommendation on foods to buy organic whenever possible due to high pesticide contamination, as well as those foods you can opt for conventional to be kind to your pocket book. I would like to add that you should try to buy local produce too - it'll taste fresher and have traveled many fewer miles to reach you.

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A Pesticide Produce Guide For Your Pocket

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

To buy organic or not to buy organic? Take a page (literally) from the Environmental Working Group, a health advocacy group consisting of scientists, engineers, policy experts, and lawyers whose mission is to expose threats to our environment. In addition to uncovering big environmental health threats, the EWG works to find small solutions, too. One of those is to help you avoid produce that is heavily sprayed with pesticides.

EWG has created a printable version of its "dirty dozen" list of the 12 most heavily sprayed fruits and veggies, as well as the 15 types of produce with the lowest amounts of pesticides. The list fits easily in your wallet so it can be used as a reference guide when grocery shopping to help you decide when to go organic and when it is OK to opt for less expensive, conventionally grown produce. You do, however, have to sign up for the EWG monthly email newsletter to get access to the printable list. Since the newsletter is chock-full of useful information on pesticides, sustainable agriculture, and other food-related issues, it's a piece of email worth getting.

You can sign up for the newsletter here. Here's to some happy and healthy shopping.

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12 Foods With High Amounts of Pesticides

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:00:00 -0700

With all this talk about getting our daily servings of fruits and veggies, we may forget about other concerns on those foods aside from nutrients: pesticides, some of which have been classified as cancer-causing agents.

I eat a lot of fruits and veggies so I do my best to avoid pesticides but some foods have more than others, and it's hard to keep track. In an effort to make your next trip to the grocery store a little easier, here are the top twelve fruits and vegetables that contain the greatest amounts of pesticide residue:

peaches
strawberries
apples
spinach
nectarines
celery
pears
cherries
potatoes
sweet bell peppers
raspberries
grapes (imported)

Looking to get the least pesticides in your diet? Then read more.

To avoid pesticides altogether your best bet is to buy organic foods - definitely those on the above list, if not all fruits and veggies. If you're not quite there yet, then you should wash and peel any of the above fruits and vegetables (that can be peeled) to reduce the amount of pesticides found on the food.

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Not So Peachy: Pesticides and Peaches

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:45:00 -0700

One of my favorite summer fruits is the peach. When I bite into a perfectly ripe peach, I am in heaven. I just read a new report on pesticides and produce put out by the
Environmental Working Group (EWG). They listed peaches as having the highest pesticide load out of 42 fruits and vegetables they tested.

The EWG, a not-for-profit research group, ranked popular produce based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004.

Here's the produce list that EWG created, ranked in order of greatest pesticide load to least.

1 Peaches (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples
3 Sweet Bell Peppers
4 Celery
5 Nectarines
6 Strawberries
7 Cherries
8 Pears
9 Grapes - Imported
10 Spinach

Interested in seeing the rest of the list? then read more
11 Lettuce
12 Potatoes
13 Carrots
14 Green Beans
15 Hot Peppers
16 Cucumbers
17 Raspberries
18 Plums
19 Grapes - Domestic
20 Oranges
21 Grapefruit
22 Tangerine
23 Mushrooms
24 Cantaloupe
25 Honeydew Melon
26 Tomatoes
27 Sweet Potatoes
28 Watermelon
29 Winter Squash
30 Cauliflower
31 Blueberries
32 Papaya
33 Broccoli
34 Cabbage
35 Bananas
36 Kiwi
37 Sweet peas - frozen
38 Asparagus
39 Mango
40 Pineapples
41 Sweet Corn - frozen
42 Avocado
43 Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)

While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

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Another Reason To Eat Organic: Vitamin C

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:15:00 -0700

The belief that pesticides do not have an effect on nutrients in foods, is being seriously challenged.

Recent news from an EU funded project has found that organic fruits contained more Vitamin C than their non-organic counterparts. Specifically researchers found that organic carrots, apples and peaches contained higher levels of vitamin C and flavonoids, an antioxidant. While last week, U.S. researchers revealed that organic kiwi fruit have significantly more vitamin C and polyphenols. If you're looking to up your vitamin C intake, you may want to go organic. Still confused about what organic products are worth the extra money? Then check out this post.

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Valentine's Day - Give Organic Flowers

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:00:00 -0800

Giving flowers has become such a tradition for Valentine's Day, but just because you may be single, doesn't mean you can't take part in the fun.

I always send my best friend flowers on Valentine's Day, because let's face it, your best friend is always there for you and you do love her - isn't that what it's all about?

You can also buy yourself flowers too, but you may want to think about buying organic bouquets. Why buy Organic Flowers?

Whenever you touch or inhale the scent of your non-organic flowers, you are likely touching or inhaling poisonous chemicals. When you buy organic flowers, you won't have to worry about toxic chemicals on your flower bouquets.
Through evaporation, toxic pesticides and fertilizers that are sprayed on flower farms end up in the atmosphere. They then travel to other global areas to fall as rain or snow.
Organic flowers, according to many people, last longer than non-organic ones.

Want to hear the other reasons and find out how you can send organic flowers? Then read more

According to an article on newdream.org, studies have shown that 50% of workers in the Costa Rica flower industry have symptoms of pesticide poisoning. Areas surrounding flower farms there have higher miscarriage and birth defect rates than do other areas.
Buying organic flowers helps support local organic farming communities and organizations, which often have charitable, philanthropic motives for selling their flowers.
The toxic chemicals used on flower farms poison groundwater and the soil. These chemicals also become part of the food chain, as animals such as birds will eat the sprayed plants. In the course of their seasonal migrations, these birds will spread these chemicals globally.

When you buy or give organic flowers, you are supporting the health of your loved one, as well as the health of the planet. Order online from Organic Bouquet (they have 5-6 ft tall red roses).

Pesticides

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:56:20 -0700

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Pesticides are substances that protect plants against molds, fungi, and insects. The term pesticide refers to all pest control substances, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.

The use of pesticides helps prevent crop loss and potential human disease. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are currently more than 865 registered pesticides. Less than half of those are used to protect our food supply. (Overall, most experts agree the United States has a safe food supply.)

Man-made pesticides are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This agency controls how much man-made pesticide can be applied on crops, and how much can remain on the food you buy.

Alternative Names

Pesticides and food

Side Effects

Because pesticides are meant to kill, they do pose some risks. Certain pesticides, such as those that contain nicotine, can be very toxic. Biopesticides, which are created from natural materials, are less risky.

Large scale studies suggest that pesticide residues are unlikely to be an important risk factor for cancer for general public.

Review Date: 8/9/2007

Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_002430

Pesticides on fruits and vegetables

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:50:15 -0700

Overview

Alternative Names
Information

Illustrations

Pesticides and fruit

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Alternative Names

Fruits and vegetables - pesticide risks

Information

To help protect yourself and your family from pesticides on fruits and vegetables, remove the outer leaves of leafy vegetables and then rinse the vegetables. Peel hard-skinned produce, or rinse it with lots of warm water mixed with salt and lemon juice or vinegar. Alternatively, you may want to buy and serve organic produce. Organic growers do not use pesticides to produce their fruits and vegetables.

Review Date: 8/15/2006

Reviewed By: Caroline M. Apovian, M.D., FACN, Associate Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Director, Nutrition & Weight Management Center, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_001987

Pesticide risks around the home

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:39:43 -0700

Back

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Pesticides are substances which kill or deter unwanted pests, such as insects or rodents. These substances can also be very harmful to children if ingested. Avoid storing toxic substances in unmarked and inappropriate containers (such as food containers), and put safety latches on cabinets that a child should not open. The best way to avoid an accidental ingestion is to keep all pesticides out of the reach of children.

Review Date: 3/30/2007

Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Medical Illustration Team

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 2_9458

Pesticides and fruit

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:41:12 -0700

Back

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

To protect your family from pesticides remove the outer leaves of leafy vegetables. Peel hard-skinned produce, or rinse it with lots of warm water mixed with salt and lemon juice or vinegar.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 2_9739