I often discuss the importance of eating organic, especially included in my Grocery Guide.
Organic foods are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Eating organic is increasingly recognized as an important choice for both personal health and environmental sustainability. Let’s cut to the chase and get real about what’s on our plates.
You’ve probably heard the ‘eat organic’ spiel a million times, but why? I’m about to spill the tea on why eating organic isn’t just a trend for hippies, health enthusiasts and eco-warriors – it’s a no-brainer for anyone who doesn’t want to put known carcinogens in or on their bodies.
Let’s dive into the crunchy world of organic eating, where the only thing more scandalous than the amount of pesticides in conventional food is that the same company that owns Monsanto also owns RoundUp (glyphosate) – the most widely used pesticide in the world. Ohhh.. and wait til you read about what atrazine does to frogs.
Common Herbicides and Pesticides in all non-organic food and tap water (also drinks, wine, coffee, non-dairy milks, and processed seed oils) include:
- Glyphosate (RoundUp)
- The most widely used herbicide in the world
- Approximately 87% of people have glyphosate in their bloodstream
- Bayer owns both RoundUp AND Monsanto
- More than 200 million pounds of glyphosate are used annually by US farmers on their fields.
- Atrazine
- Changes the gender of frogs (I go into this below)
- Adverse effects on health such as tumors, breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers as well as leukemia and lymphoma. Interrupts hormone function and causing birth defects and reproductive tumors in amphibians as well as humans. Reduces sperm count and quality and increases infertility.
- Ractopamine
- It is a drug in the beta-agonist family, and some other beta-agonists have been shown to have negative effects on human health including increased heart rate and anxiety.
- Methyl Bromide and other fumigants
- Banned in the US but still widely used regardless of legality
- Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed
- Insecticides such as Methomyl
- Can have a poisonous effect on nerve cells or tissue. If a person is exposed to methomyl via ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation, the chemical might overstimulate the nervous system, resulting in nausea, confusion, dizziness, and, at very high exposures, respiratory paralysis and death.
- Rodenticides i.e. Rat Poison
- Toxic chemicals used to control rodent populations and are among the most common household toxicants. Ingestion of foods contaminated with rodenticides may cause severe illness or death in humans and animals.
- Fungicides
- Some fungicides are dangerous to human health, such as vinclozolin, which has now been removed from use. Ziram is also a fungicide that is toxic to humans with long-term exposure, and fatal if ingested.
- Pendimethalin (STOMP)
- Inhaling can irritate the nose and throat and can cause headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting and possible skin allergy.
- Paraquat
- Paraquat is highly toxic to humans; one small accidental sip can be fatal and there is no antidote.
- Clethodim
- Fluazifop
I’m not just discussing organic produce when I talk about the importance of going organic – I am saying these harmful chemicals are also in your oat milk latte, cup of tea, your bag of doritos, crackers, pringles, popcorn, pasta and even your rice or in your tap water. These things can be avoided if you swap for organic options. If it’s advertised on TV or YouTube, chances are, you probably want to avoid them.
Here are the key reasons why going organic is important:
1. Reduced Exposure to Harmful Chemicals: Organic foods are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many of these chemicals, used in conventional agriculture, i.e. EVERYTHING, can be harmful to human health. For example, pesticides and herbicides have been classified as known carcinogens. Eating organic reduces your exposure to these substances.
More than 200 million pounds of glyphosate (RoundUp) are used annually by US farmers on their fields. The weedkiller is sprayed directly over genetically engineered crops such as corn and soybeans, and also over non-genetically engineered crops such as wheat and oats as a desiccant to dry crops out prior to harvest. Poo Poo to your oat milk and pasta. Many farmers also use it on fields before the growing season, including spinach growers and almond producers. It is considered the most widely used herbicide in history and owned by the same company that owns Monsanto (Bayer), which tells you everything you need to know.
Glyphosate (RoundUp) especially has been shown that exposure to this pesticide during the early stages of life can seriously affect normal cell development by deregulating some of the signaling pathways involved in this process, leading to alterations in differentiation, neuronal growth, and myelination. Glyphosate also seems to exert a significant toxic effect on neurotransmission and to induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, processes that lead to neuronal death due to autophagy, necrosis, or apoptosis, as well as the appearance of behavioral and motor disorders. The doses of glyphosate that produce these neurotoxic effects vary widely but are lower than the limits set by regulatory agencies.
Up to 85% of people have glyphosate in their bloodstreams right now in this current moment, and we wonder why cancer, behavioral disorders, obesity, and other ailments are at an all-time high.
2. Impact on Wildlife and Biodiversity: The use of chemicals in agriculture has far-reaching effects on wildlife.
A notable example is atrazine, a commonly used herbicide in non-organic farming. Clinical research has shown that atrazine can be extremely harmful to amphibians, particularly frogs. Previous studies showed that atrazine adversely affects amphibian larval development. The present study demonstrates the reproductive consequences of atrazine exposure in adult amphibians. Atrazine-exposed males were both demasculinized (chemically castrated) and completely feminized as adults. It has also been found to disrupt endocrine function and lead to hermaphroditism (where a single individual has both male and female reproductive organs) in frogs. I’m not making this up – CLICK HERE to read the NIH study and other studies linked in the footnotes.
If RoundUp, atrazine and the others can have this effect on frogs, imagine what they are doing to your health. Additionally, this not only affects the individual animals but can also have broader ecological impacts, disrupting local ecosystems. Check out RFK Jr’s take on it when he was interviewed on the Joe Rogan Experience.
3. Less Risk of Carcinogens: Many pesticides and herbicides used in conventional farming have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. For instance, glyphosate, the active ingredient in the most widely used herbicide Roundup, has been classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” By choosing organic foods, consumers can avoid these potential risks.
4. Environmental Sustainability: Organic farming practices are designed to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly. They emphasize soil health and reduce pollution from fertilizer or pesticide runoff. This approach not only helps in preserving the natural ecosystem but also ensures the long-term viability of farming land. Check out my piece on regenerative agriculture here.
5. Nutritional Benefits: While the research is still evolving, some studies suggest that organic produce might have higher levels of certain nutrients, including antioxidants, compared to conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.
TIP: have you ever checked the numbers on the stickers in your produce?
Fun Fact: If it starts with a 9, then it is certified organic.
6. Support for Humane Animal Treatment: Organic meat and dairy come from animals that are given organic feed and are raised without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones. These animals are also required to have access to the outdoors, promoting a more natural and humane lifestyle. Check out my piece on grass fed/pasture raised meats here.
7. Avoidance of GMOs: Organic products do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We should not be eating frankenfood, we should be eating real food. It is important to note that the NON-GMO Project label is NOT ENOUGH when you are reviewing your labels. It must also say certified organic.
Bottom line, it’s very sad to say that the majority of restaurants do not use organic products. Produce and boxed/bagged snacks and other foods such as pasta contain these harmful chemicals. It’s critical to control what you can control at home. I usually recommend supporting your local farmer’s via farmers markets which also helps reduce the cost, especially if you are on a tighter budget. Check out my grocery guide here for more information.
And there you have it! We’ve chopped through the myths, peeled back the layers of misinformation, and served up the organic truth on a silver, pesticide-free platter. Remember, choosing organic isn’t just for the hippies, health enthusiasts, eco-warrior crowd (no shade, we love you guys!). It’s for anyone who values the health of themselves and their families. So next time you’re battling the aisles of your local grocery store or farmer’s market, channel your inner organic warrior and make choices for the gift that is your body.
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*NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9101768/
https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2022/07/cdc-finds-toxic-weedkiller-87-percent-children-tested
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/glyphosate/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/09/weedkiller-glyphosate-cdc-study-urine-samples
https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/agriculture/vpac/Shared%20Documents/January_2014/pathak_humaneffects_10%205923%20j%20ije%2020110101%2003%20(2).pdf
https://vet.osu.edu/sites/vet.osu.edu/files/documents/extension/Brochure_Ractopamine.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2842049/#:~:text=Previous%20studies%20showed%20that%20atrazine,and%20completely%20feminized%20as%20adults.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1874169/#:~:text=Atrazine%20is%20a%20potent%20endocrine,the%20gonads%20of%20developing%20males.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC122794/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9610493/
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/paraquat-dichloride-one-sip-can-kill#:~:text=Paraquat%20is%20highly%20toxic%20to,DRINK%20OR%20OTHER%20CONTAINERS%E2%80%9D%20and