Organic Food & Pesticides

Eating fruits and vegetables is a large part of a healthy diet. Unfortunately, the use of pesticides worldwide can cause these healthy foods to come with health risks. Though the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticides, consider eating organic produce. Organic food, though more expensive than regular produce, is healthier for your family and the environment.

About Pesticides

• Exposure to pesticides can cause skin, eye and lung irritation.

  Pesticides are toxic chemicals that are used to kill insects, weeds and fungi that can hamper the growth of produce. Farmers use these chemicals to grow bigger, higher-quality fruits and vegetables without the threat of pests. According to Healing Daily, on an average day, Americans can be exposed to up to 70 pesticides through their diet. While eating produce that was grown with the help of pesticides won't necessarily kill you, it may pose health risks. Some chemicals have been linked to cancer, nervous system toxicity and skin, eye and lung irritation, according to Food News.

About Organic Food

• There are ways to reduce the amount of pesticides to which you are exposed. Organic food, designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program, is certified to be produced "without synthetic chemicals, genetic engineering, radiation or sewage sludge," according to Food News. Most foods you already eat every day have an organic version available. Though organic food tends to be more expensive than other produce, it may be worth the money.

Why Eat Organic Food?

• Avoid exposing children to nonorganic produce or dairy products.

  According to Food News, most people have detectable traces of pesticides already in their bodies. Children are at greater risk for developing complications associated with ingesting pesticides because their organs are less developed than adults. They are also less able to detoxify toxic chemicals in their bodies. To reduce everyone's risk, consider eating organic food. According to a study from Beyond Pesticides, organic foods such as corn and strawberries were found to have higher levels of phenolics. Phenolics are responsible for aiding antioxidant and anticancer activity, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry.

Alternatives

• Pineapple is low in pesticide content.

  Buying all organic food is not always accessible and can be expensive. To reduce your risk without breaking the budget, consider buying low-pesticide produce. For fruits that consistently have low pesticide levels, buy pineapples, kiwi fruit, watermelon, grapefruit and mango. For low-pesticide vegetables, purchase onions, avocado, cabbage, eggplant and sweet potatoes. According to the Environmental Working Group, the above-mentioned produce is the least likely to have high amounts of pesticide. The group formed their list by analyzing 96,000 tests for pesticides on the 50 most popular fruits and vegetables.

Nonorganic Produce to Avoid

• Strawberries are likely to have high pesticide levels.

  If you are able to purchase limited organic food, spend your grocery money on organic produce that would normally have high pesticide rates. If possible, purchase organic strawberries, blueberries, apples, peaches and cherries. When buying fresh vegetables, consider buying organic celery, spinach, lettuce, green beans, cucumbers and sweet bell peppers. According to Environmental Working Group calculations, 96 percent of peaches and 95 percent of celery tested positive for pesticides. By buying this produce organic, you can reduce your exposure to pesticides.