TAG | pesticides
Any food we consume these days, unless it’s organic, was almost certainly exposed to pesticides at some point. The use of pesticides on food crops has largely increased over the last century in America. In a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, pesticides were detected in 96 percent of blood and urine samples of more than 5,000 Americans age 6 and older. Pesticide prevalence in the US is higher than it’s ever been and the toxicity of pesticides is unquestionable. These harmful chemicals have been linked to various health problems, such as skin, eye and lung irritation, brain and nervous system toxicity and hormone disruption.
Buying organic is the healthiest choice but with limited supply and high prices, purchasing all organic produce may not be possible for the average shopper. Luckily we now have some perspective on the world’s most polluted produce with the annual “dirty dozen” list.
For the past 7 years the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit environmental health organization, has helped consumers who are concerned about pesticides on produce. Each year EWG scientists test conventionally grown (not organic) produce samples for pesticide residues and use data collected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Analysts assemble a ranking of the fruits and vegetables that contain the greatest amount of pesticide residues called the “dirty dozen.” This inventory helps consumers decide which organic fruits and vegetables to splurge on when they’re shopping for produce. Similarly, a separate list is released of the non-organic produce with the least accumulation of potentially harmful pesticide residues called the “clean fifteen.”
Dirty Dozen 2011 (buy organic when possible)
- Nectarines (imported)
- Grapes (imported)
- Sweet bell peppers
- Blueberries (domestic)
- Kale/collard greens
Clean Fifteen 2011 (lowest amounts of pesticides)
- Sweet corn
- Sweet peas
- Cantaloupe (domestic)
- Sweet potatoes
You may be thinking that you’re in the clear because you wash all of your fruits and veggies. While it’s true that washing non-organic fruits and vegetables helps remove some chemical residues, washing produce only goes so far. Pesticides are also absorbed through the roots of plants so washing won’t remove all risk of pesticide exposure. Plus, before the EWG tests any fruit or vegetable for pesticides, samples are washed and peeled. Produce is evaluated just as it would be consumed, making the “dirty dozen” and “clean fifteen” lists even more accurate.
But don’t let the dirty dozen scare you. The health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables far outweigh any pesticide exposure risk. It’s always best to choose organic when possible to limit your exposure to harmful levels of pesticides, but now you can choose your produce wisely and not break the bank in the process.
Since we’re all exposed to harmful chemicals like pesticides, remember to do a total-body cleanse 2-4 times each year to help keep your detoxification processes in tip-top shape.
A recent study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that in almost all of 268 pregnant women tested, eight different types of chemicals were found in their bodies. Chemicals found include pesticides, flame retardants, PFCs from non-stick cookware, phthalates, car exhaust pollutants and even DDT, a chemical that has been banned since 1979!
These toxins can pass right through the placenta and into the fetus. In fact, a previous study, done by the Environmental Working Group, found that unborn babies carry over 200 different chemicals in their bodies, even before they are born.
The study in pregnant women looked for 163 different chemicals, so it only scratches the surface, because over 80,000 new chemicals are introduced each year. The chemical bisphenol A (BPA) was found in 96 percent of these women. Prenatal BPA exposure has been linked to adverse health outcomes, affecting brain development and susceptibility to cancer in later life.
Certain chemical levels found in these women were at levels known to be harmful to children. While concerning, this does not even take into account the additive effect that chemicals have, which is considered to be more dangerous because new chemical compounds can be formed when chemicals mix, and little is known about the possible consequences of this.
Toxins are everywhere. We live in a toxic soup. We can reduce our exposure, but we cannot prevent it. That’s why a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and supporting the health of the body’s channels of elimination (colon, liver, kidneys, lymph, blood, lungs and skin) are so vital to reducing the harmful effects that toxins can have on our health.