Is Organic Produce Really Worth The Extra Money? |
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Some people feel that it is. It can be a wise choice to make some of your produce choices organic. This is because some produce options, like bananas, have thicker skin than others. Fruits and vegetables that are thin-skinned, like strawberries, will absorb more pesticides; with these items it may be wiser to buy organic. Testing done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture concluded that fruits and vegetables still contain high concentrations of pesticides, even after they have been thoroughly cleaned. These are some of the items you may want to purchase in the organic section of your local market: apples, peaches, cherries, pears, strawberries, celery, bell peppers, potatoes and spinach, to name a few. Because of their lower concentration levels it may be relatively safe to buy non-organic versions of produce such as asparagus, avocados and bananas. Purchasing organic produce supports the reduction of harmful chemicals that can poison the environment, especially the water supply. The reasons mentioned may not be enough incentive for a family to increase their food budget. Many people choose organic because of an aversion to pesticides and their belief that organic is healthier. After researching the hazardous effects of using chemicals on produce, the wealth of information is daunting and sometimes contradictory. Although there is a lot of information on some possibly carcinogenic pesticides and chemicals and how they build up in our bodies once consumed, there are relatively few studies that focus on their long term effects. With the passing of the 1996 federal law that requires pesticides to conform to child safety standards, over a dozen pesticides that once saw heavy use have been restricted, voluntarily withdrawn, or banned completely. Toxic chemicals have the potential to damage children's immune, central-nervous, and hormonal systems. Contrary to what earlier studies had concluded, a 2005 research study discovered that pesticides could cross from a mother to a developing fetus. Red Cross studies have shown that a certain 21 different pesticides can be absorbed across the placenta. With this information now available, it seems better for pregnant women and children to eat more organic, so that their exposure to harmful chemicals is limited. To this day, there is an ongoing struggle to ban certain harmful pesticides in the U.S. that have already been banned by the European Union. Produce imported from Mexico should be closely examined, as well. In Mexico, farmers use sewer water to irrigate their crops, and they also use chemicals that have been banned in the United States. If you are buying items that are not organic, you may find it better to purchase home-grown produce. Organic or not, if a product is grown locally it will be fresher than products that are in transit for a period of time. You can help out your local farmers and save on organic produce by buying from the farmer's markets in your area. Farmer's markets feature in-season produce, which is usually fresher and tastes better. Reduced chemical exposure aside, many recent studies have proven organic produce to be much higher not only in nutrients, but also in antioxidants. In 2007, European researchers discovered that organic produce had 40% more antioxidants than other produce. Scientists think that this is because organic plants create antioxidants as a way to defend themselves against the stress they endure; stress that pesticides ordinarily would protect them from. You will have to determine for yourself the amount of organic produce you will include in your diet, or whether you should even buy it in the first place. Children and pregnant women may benefit greatly from going organic in their produce consumption. Supporting organic produce and local farmer's markets really makes sense. When making produce choices, one should avoid produce from third world countries.
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FoodEditorials Health Food Guide offers tips on Healthy Eating and useful information on Organic Food such as Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts. Also if you are seeking for more information on Vegetarian Food, this section is perfect for you.
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