Redder and bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. When grocery shopping, it pays to buy some things organic. Look for these Have you noticed the apples at your supermarket looking redder? Do out-of-season plums beckon you? There are some foods that are more likely to be pumped artificially than others. Here is a list of things you need to watch out for when you go provision shopping. Better still, just switch to the organic variety to save yourself a host of health problems.
Milk
While we've all grown up learning about the natural goodness of milk, we must also keep in mind that all the antibiotics and hormones that go into high-yield cows aren't. Research on supplements such as recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) used in conventional milk production have suggested links to early puberty and other hormonal abnormalities. On the other hand, organic milk has higher levels of Vitamin E, Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids and antioxidants which help beat infections.
Eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein but one must know many varieties of eggs are produced by using a range of antibiotics and hormones on poultry. Organic eggs mean fewer hormones in the chicken or chemicals acting as hormones in your body.
Potatoes
Chlorothalonil, often used on potatoes, can affect children in particular. Potato pesticides have been linked to high rates of asthma. So if you have problems with your respiratory system, then stick to naturally grown potatoes only.
Spinach
It's imperative to include green leafy vegetables such as fenugreek leaves and spinach in our diet. But a recently conducted research shows that one sample of spinach has residues of more than 20 different pesticides on it. So it's not just E. coli scares that have given conventionally grown spinach a bad name.
Grapes
Grapes contain methyl parathion and methomyl, a carbamate insecticide listed as an endocrine disruptor. Need we say more?
Pears
Like grapes, residues of methyl parathion shows up in pears as well as does azinphos-methyl, an acutely toxic chemical used on many fruit crops.
Strawberries
This fungicide also contributes to the toxicity of strawberries. Two other fungicides — captan and iprodione — are likely human carcinogens by the EPA. Another common fungicide — vinclozolin — found in strawberries slows down the normal functioning of androgen. Among other commonly found contaminants on strawberries is endosulfan, a relative of DDT that imitates the hormone estrogen, which ends up interfering with your normal hormone levels.
Capsicum
Green peppers are rich in Vitamin C, while red bell peppers are a good source of Vitamin A and carotenoids. However, when it comes to crops, bell peppers are the most contaminated vegetables in terms of neurotoxic insecticides. Not only do these harmful chemicals kill the nutrients in the vegetable, but also have an effect on brain pathways that are involved in Parkinson's disease.
Apples
Of all the fruits, apples are considered to have the highest quantity of pesticides in them. Apples are frequently sprayed with syngenta paraquat, a pesticide that is possible linked to Parkinson again. It is essential that you choose one of the many organic options popping up at your local market instead.
Peaches
In certain studies, peaches have had up to 10 times as much pesticide on them as other fruits and vegetables. These chemicals include the cancer-linked fungicides captan and iprodione, and the neurotoxic pesticide methyl parathion.
While it's good to be aware of pesticides in all foods, because they linger in the soil for years after organic production has begun it's always best to peel fruits and veggies, both organic and conventional, to reduce pesticide intake.
