Including fresh produce in your diet is one of the most efficient ways to stay healthy and prevent disease, but did you know that conventional varieties have pesticide residues in them that will end up in your body?
The facts:
- The latest pesticide residue report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that about 85 percent or more of 10,000 samples of produce they tested contained pesticide residues.
- Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released their annual report that said 82 percent of fruits and vegetables in the domestic markets contained pesticide residues.
- The most prevalent residue was chlorpyrifos, which is a neurotoxic pesticide.
- While these statistics are alarming, most of the pesticide residues in the tested foods were technically federal standard compliant. Yikes!
What’s being debated
Scientists debate the health effects of these residues, but they have considered that they are linked to infertility, birth defects, endocrine disruption, cancer, and neurological disorders. It might not seem like a big deal when you’re picking out veggies in the grocery store, but all of these pesticide residues can build up in our system.
The best thing to do is keep your exposure as low as possible. So what should you do?
You can go organic. The organic options in your local produce section aren’t as astronomically expensive as you might think and you can sign up for coupons if you go to the right store.
Your best bet is to start your own organic garden.
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite reasons to start an organic garden:
1.You will control what you eat
We can’t control our environment. We know that our rainwater isn’t as clean as it used to be but we can control everything else that’s put into our organic gardens.
When you start your own garden, you are in charge of what fuels it and it all begins with the soil.
Instead of putting a bunch of chemical fertilizers into your garden, you can make and add your own organic compost or use something safe like worm castings to change the pH level of your soil.
2.You’ll skip the pesticide residues
One of the biggest benefits of going organic is that you and your family won’t be exposed to chemical pesticides. Your vegetables will be clean, fresh, and healthy when you fuel them with quality organic materials.
3.It’s fun
Tending to your vegetables is a relaxing and fun way to spend your time. Not only will you be out enjoying the sun, but you’ll be happy to watch them grow.
You can even turn it into a family activity for your kids. Encourage them to step into the garden with you and help label, water, prune, and harvest your vegetables with you.
4.Organic gardening is rewarding
Once you’ve put in the hard work of starting the seeds, transporting the seedlings, watering, and pruning your veggies, it’s harvest time!
Picking that first crisp cucumber of the summer or that beautiful ripe tomato will give you a sense of accomplishment that doesn’t come from a store.
