REDUCE TOXIC EXPOSURE:

FOOD/ORGANIC

"Everything that goes into food, goes into you!"

Sales of organic foods are one of the hottest growth trends in the food industry today, and with good reason. Think about it: if fruits and vegetables are sprayed with pesticides and fungicides, unless you are able to completely remove all traces of it, you are going to be ingesting small quantities of whatever it was sprayed with when you eat it. If the cow your meat and milk comes from, and the chicken you eat or your eggs come from, are fed a diet that contains growth hormones, antibiotics, chemical fertilizers, etc. it stands to reason that it will contain residues of those things when you eat them.

Our bodies are amazing and designed to pass and eliminate toxins, but with the increased exposure we have today, it can be increasingly difficult for your body to do its job; especially in a situation when it is already overwhelmed dealing with an illness. Eating organic foods can help to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers.

Another benefit is that organic foods should not contain any genetically modified ingredients, whose safety is also questionable. I think you will find the flavor of organic foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, to be superior to anything that has been preserved to sit on store shelves for weeks or longer.

Aside from the personal benefits, organic farming methods also have tremendous advantages for the environment. By using natural fertilizers the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment and in the water supply is reduced.

The Danish Research Centre for Organic Food and Farming recently presented information at a U.N. conference in Rome that a large-scale shift to organic agriculture could help fight world hunger while improving the environment...and although there might be a small drop in the total production of crops, this could be mitigated by improvements to the land and other enviromnental benefits.

To be confident that products labeled as organic adhere to national standards, look for the USDA Organic seal. Although voluntary, the seal verifies that products carrying it are at least 95% organic by weight (excluding water and salt), and that the farms producing these items meet USDA standards.

If you are interested in learning more about organic food I would recommend you visit www.wholefoods.com. The Whole Foods website can answer questions about what organic means, how to read organic labels, and many other frequently asked questions. For information about the environmental impact of chemicals and other toxic substances, check out Environmental Working Group’s website at www.ewg.org.

Remember, “You are what you eat!!”

Tips:
If you are unable to eat organic produce make sure you wash all fruits and vegetables carefully before eating. And it is a good idea to rinse pre-washed bagged salads, too! Many years ago I was told that soaking fruits and veges in water with apple cider vinegar added to it will help to remove any residue left from processing and growing, especially if it is not organic. I am not sure if this is true, but it’s worth doing if you like to be extra careful!!

Women to Women.com recommends two other ways to clean your produce:

1. Veggie soak: Fill a clean sink or bowl with water, add 1/2-1 cup of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of salt. Swish the mixture around with your hands and allow your produce to soak for 20 minutes, then rinse well when finished.

2. Veggie spray:
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 cup of water
Put all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake gently to mix. Be careful because the mix may foam up. Spray on veggies and fruit and allow it to sit for 2-5 minutes, then risnse produce under cold water. Keep the spray refrigerated when not using it. It will stay fresh for about a week.

Here is a link to a wonderful and informative article by Marcella Pick, MD from the Women to Women website - it is a terrific source of information on many health related topics. http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/foodsafety.aspx?

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