Natural Christian Parenting

I’ve been researching a lot lately on eating organic foods. I am by no means an expert in this area, but thought I would share some thoughts and findings and ask for your comments and suggestions in return…

Because we were reading Consumer Reports regularly for reviews on baby products, I found an article titled “When it Pays to buy Organic.” I read the following: “Children’s developing bodies are especially vulnerable to toxins and they may be at risk of higher exposure.” Of course that got my attention and I have fed my son organic food almost exclusively since then. (In addition to breastmilk, of course.) I have made my own baby food out of organic foods and when I travel somewhere, I only purchase organic canned baby food.

Now that we don’t have to puree everything, I am paying more attention to what I am purchasing for the whole family, since all 3 of us are eating the same thing. In regards to produce, I do my best to purchase the “dirty dozen” in organic. The “dirty dozen” are the most highly contaminated foods with pesticides and chemicals, even after washing and peeling. (The research used to compile this list is from tests run by the FDA and the USDA from over 100,000 samples of food.) The chemical pesticides detected in these studies are known to cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system and brain damage, and development problems in children.

12 Most Contaminated
• Apples
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Cherries
• Imported Grapes
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Red Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries

12 Least Contaminated
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn (sweet)
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Onions
• Papaya
• Pineapples
• Peas (sweet)

I have continued to research organic eating and even though the American Dietetic Association states that there is currently no scientific evidence that organic produce is better or safer than conventionally grown produce, pesticide use has only been widespread since the 40s. Even more startling is that pesticide use has increased 50-fold since 1950 (source). How can we truly know the ill effects on the body with such a recent doubling effect? I choose to believe science over hunches, but in this case it seems too early to deduce that all is well.

Beyond the “safer for you” argument, I have learned that well-balanced organic soil grows stronger, healthier plants that taste better and contain more nutrients. In addition, organic farming practices eliminate the use of toxic and persistent chemicals that can contaminate our water supplies. With such information, I have choosen to buy at least the “dirty dozen” in organic.

So, what’s my next step?…meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. I want to reduce our intake of the supplemental hormones and antibiotics, which have been linked to increased antibacterial resistance in humans as well as reducing our risk of other toxins. Honestly, we’re not there yet, but we’re moving in that direction. I would really love to dialogue on this topic, so please feel free to post a comment.

Here are a few sites and articles of interest:

Consumer Reports — wonderful overview on organic shopping including what to buy organic, how to decipher the food label, and chemical risks

Top 10 Reasons to Go Organic

Health Problems Pesticides May Pose

“Eating for the Environment” in Today’s Dietitian magazine