Two Great Reasons to Buy Organic Foods
Why should you consider buying organic produce and foods? Consider your health and the environment's.
Health Considerations
Pesticides are poisons, designed to kill living things, and the accumulation of residues is greater on conventional foods than on organic ones. Studies suggest that low-level exposure to pesticides over several years can cause health problems. Pesticide-related illnesses among farmworkers who handle these toxics are well documented. Immediate problems include lung and eye irritation, nausea and short-term nerve damage. Long-term risks include cancer and Lou Gehrig's disease.
Most of the commonly used manmade pesticides are potential carcinogens. Pesticides are also endocrine disrupters that mimic or interfere with hormones. The effect on our bodies is the topic of studies now underway. A 1987 National Academy of Science report suggested that many common pesticides can cause birth defects, cancer and nerve damage, as well as disrupting the immune system.
One of the most compelling reasons to buy organic foods is for the health of your children. Their exposure to pesticides is greater than an adult's. Children eat more fruits and vegetables relative to their body weight. Their diet is less varied — so they may consume more of one pesticide than others, allowing it to accumulate to toxic levels. Because children are exposed to these chemicals early in their life, when their detoxification system isn't fully developed, they have more years to accumulate chemicals in their body tissue. A report released by the Environmental Working Group, "Pesticides in Children's Food," concluded that the largest contribution to a person's lifetime risk of cancer from pesticide residues occurs during childhood.
