The Dangers of Pesticides and Chemicals on Food – Go Organic!

You are what you eat! We hear that so often; yet don't consider what that truly means. What we eat determines what kind of life we will have. This process starts from where we buy it at the supermarket or the grocery, how we prepare it, and how it is cooked. Also, some other aspects to be considered are when we eat, how much, and how often.

Studies have shown that buying organic foods and eating it can be beneficial to living health lives. For couples, it is very important to consider the possibility of having a child. Eating food that lacks the right amount of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients may impede the child's growth development.

For a few years now, scientists and other experts in the field of health have been carefully monitoring non-organic foods and its affect on people’s health.

To their shock, they discovered that the fertilizers and chemicals used to help the crops grow are more harmful than good. Tests have shown that increased amounts of these substances, when entering the human body, can lead to diseases.

Farmers use four major kinds of substances on crops and livestock.

1. The use of pesticides and herbicides. These were discovered in foods which had highly toxic chemical residues. Although the Federal Drug Administration

(FDA) has banned these substances from being used, chemicals companies still export them. Since many of our crops are imported, they come back to the States and are eaten.

2. Contaminated sewage sludge. A while ago, human waste was seen as a wonderful idea to fertilize non-organic crops. At first there seemed to be no problem with this, but it is also  mixed with chemical and industrial waste before being sent to the plant for treatment. Further studies have shown that large amounts of this in the human body may contribute to chronic illnesses.

3. The use of hormones, antibiotics and remains of other animals (even road kill). This is usually found in dairy products, meat and eggs. Doctors believe this is a disaster on the verge of appearing since incidents such as mad cow diseases are beginning to appear. This problem can be even for humans if it is ingested. The third is the use hormones, antibiotics and remains of other animals. This is usually found in eggs, meat and dairy products. Doctors consider this as a disaster waiting to happen since incidents such as mad cow disease has already happened. Since we are what we eat, many are beginning to wonder if the diseases in the animal and dairy products could in fact lead to diseases in humans.

4. The last method used is irradiation. Spices are exposed to radiation that kills bacteria and microorganisms that may be present. This also has been shown to do more harm than good since it can lead to many diseases.

 

Since these methods are extremely harmful to the health of humans and to the environment, better laws are being enforced. Scientists have been encouraging farmers to stop these practices and to begin growing their crops organically.

Couples expecting a child
For families who are expecting to have children, the parents should begin eating organic foods even before the mother-to-be is pregnant. Both parents need to have a strong bodies and the young child will need to have a strong immune system to fight off diseases.

A well balanced diet includes:
A large variety of healthy vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and legumes (beans); these are all essential in the health of the child, as well as the adult human body. These also help to give two essential fatty acids for proper development of the brain: linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. These, along with other acids, are essential in creating brain cell lipids.

Our brains our composed of billions of cells and is the first organic to begin development in the fetus. This grows in the following months until the birth of the baby.

Organic foods should be eaten by the parents, especially the mother, even after the baby is born so that the nutrients from the food will be given to the baby in the form of its mother's milk. This is needed to strengthen the baby's immune system.

Although it is almost impossible to avoid eating all non-organic foods, it is best to always be on the alert as to where the food that is bought comes from. The USDA has begun implementing national standards for the production, handling, and processing of organic foods.

These standards detail methods, substances and practices that can ONLY be used when handling organic products, livestock and other processed products. It bans the use of GMO (genetic engineering and modifying), irradiation and sewage sludge; which have been used in the process of non-organic foods.

With these standards in place, harvests and crops sold to the consumer may only be sold if the farm is USDA certified. Since this all costs extra money, the government has stepped in to help cover these costs.

Pesticides and chemicals are extremely dangerous in the lives of humans, as well as those who are not yet born. These dangers cannot be ignored. Now is the time to step in and confront the threat, there is a safe alternative. If at all possible, we must avert an outbreak, which is inevitable, from these poisons.