Most of us can probably still hear our mother’s voice in the back of our head telling us to eat our fruits and vegetables. My mom’s favorite nag reel: “Eat your colo…
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MuscleDog For Women > Article Discussion > The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen
When I was younger I used to HATE washing my fruits and vegetable. I knew that it would only take a minute of my time however it was so much easier to grab a handful of blueberries or a couple grapes on the go.
Now that I am more educated about added hormones and pesticides I would not dare to eat anything without washing it first. I try to buy organic fruits, vegetables, wild raised fish, grass feed meat, organic chicken, dairy and eggs. It’s more expensive but well worth it.
I put so much effort in time managing my diet, eating healthy and working out, why would I risk my health for a few extra dollars.
You wonder why Americans have the highest ratings for obesity. I am sure it has to do with added hormones, pesticides, and processed junk food.
In other countries people buy their groceries’ in food markets were the food is locally grown. Farmers avoid added pesticides and hormones. ITS ALL FRESH!!!
Now that I am more educated about added hormones and pesticides I would not dare to eat anything without washing it first. I try to buy organic fruits, vegetables, wild raised fish, grass feed meat, organic chicken, dairy and eggs. It’s more expensive but well worth it.
I put so much effort in time managing my diet, eating healthy and working out, why would I risk my health for a few extra dollars.
You wonder why Americans have the highest ratings for obesity. I am sure it has to do with added hormones, pesticides, and processed junk food.
In other countries people buy their groceries’ in food markets were the food is locally grown. Farmers avoid added pesticides and hormones. ITS ALL FRESH!!!
While I agree that going the organic route is, in general, preferred to the regular menu of hormones and pesticides, I have to put my money on Americans being overweight because we eat too much and exericse too little. While hormones, pesticides, and other nasties found in and on traditionally-grown food have been shown to affect our biochemical processes, I wouldn’t rank them very high on the “reasons for obesity” list.
I agree with r_crass, I wouldn’t blame pesticides and antibiotics for obesity, but llulko has a great point and who knows what other kinds of adverse effects we could be developing from them. I would attribute our obesity problems to poor nutritional habits, mostly dealing with processed carbohydrates, but I am sure there are plenty of degenerative diseases, sicknesses and strains of resistant microbes, and other issues with our immune system that can be traced to the levels of chemicals in our food system. Bioaccumulation of pesticides for generations upon generations of plants means that even if farmers stop using pesticides right now we will still be consuming the residuals from previous years. There hasn’t been enough research devoted to learning how these chemicals affect humans, but I doubt 40 years from now we’ll look back and say that it was worth it to saturate our crops with them.
Shopping all organic can be so expensive, good tip to focus on the top 12.
I’d like to add, something I see a lot as a nutritionist and one thing I like to point out to clients is that just because something says “organic” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier. Organic products can be pumped full of sugars too (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice ring any bells?) so you still have to read the label even if it says organic.
I’d like to add, something I see a lot as a nutritionist and one thing I like to point out to clients is that just because something says “organic” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier. Organic products can be pumped full of sugars too (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice ring any bells?) so you still have to read the label even if it says organic.
I agree with r_cass, Pete, and Nuwanne that there are certainly other factors which contribute to obesity. (lack of exercises, fast food, processed food, (bad) simple carbs, trans/saturated fats, sodium ect). However, buying organic non processed food is one step closer to living a healthy lifestyle.
My question is: Why do Americans have the highest rate of obesity compared to other countries. It’s not like all Americans are uneducated about health and nutrition. I am sure other countries in Asia and Europe have the same processed junk, however their obesity rates are still lower… It makes me question if added hormones and pesticides cause a negative reaction to our hormones and bodily functions.
I know there are other factors such as culture, food portions, and food availability but I have to think that adding unnatural substances cause damage in our body…. I am all about the cave man diet (I do not follow it 100%) however that is how we were meant to eat…
My question is: Why do Americans have the highest rate of obesity compared to other countries. It’s not like all Americans are uneducated about health and nutrition. I am sure other countries in Asia and Europe have the same processed junk, however their obesity rates are still lower… It makes me question if added hormones and pesticides cause a negative reaction to our hormones and bodily functions.
I know there are other factors such as culture, food portions, and food availability but I have to think that adding unnatural substances cause damage in our body…. I am all about the cave man diet (I do not follow it 100%) however that is how we were meant to eat…
well llulko, the question about American obesity rates is a very long and very complicated one, definitely a subject for a whole book or 8, but the bulk of the definitive research i have seen points to the absolute rampant abuse and abundance of processed carbohydrates. between the un-necessary use of high fructose corn syrup in everything on the shelves these days, to the consumption rate of sodas, to the amount of carbs we consume in general, there is simply too much sugar in our diets. from a young age we start; in most baby formulas, high fructose corn syrup is the 1st or second ingredient, and after we are done with formulas we move on to juice, then soda/sports drinks.
we didnt evolve eating processed carbohydrates, or really any carbohydrates for that matter. we evolved eating similar to the caveman diet, mostly plants and meat, and the invention of agriculture and the ability to produce carbohydrates in extremely high quantities has allowed the human race to expand, but has also caused us to get fat.
you could talk for days about this…
we didnt evolve eating processed carbohydrates, or really any carbohydrates for that matter. we evolved eating similar to the caveman diet, mostly plants and meat, and the invention of agriculture and the ability to produce carbohydrates in extremely high quantities has allowed the human race to expand, but has also caused us to get fat.
you could talk for days about this…
Great article and points, guys…I do consider myself a beginner and find it amazing how much there is to learn about foods that most people would consider “healthy” (it’s probably safe to say that the majority don’t even think about the pesticides or hormones on their fruits and veggies).
People want food fast and unfortunately we have been conditioned to take the easy way out by giving in to on-the-go meals with massive amounts of preservatives. Bottom line—we need to take the extra few minutes and dollars to invest in a healthier lifestyle! :)
People want food fast and unfortunately we have been conditioned to take the easy way out by giving in to on-the-go meals with massive amounts of preservatives. Bottom line—we need to take the extra few minutes and dollars to invest in a healthier lifestyle! :)
I have also found myself snickering in my head in the grocery store whenever I hear someone talk about how expensive it is to eat heathy food (Many frozen pizzas are cheaper than the ingredients for an awesome, organic salad.), but when I look in their cart, they have vitamins for this, that, and everything else, fiber supplements, and who knows what prescriptions to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, blah, blah, blah. They could save a whoooole heckuva lotta money by just eating right in the first place.
Check out this article about what foods to buy organic/non organic
Organic Food Value Debate
Written by Jeff Behar, MS, MBA
More and more people are reaching to organic food believing that by eating organic food that they are doing their bodies good. But is eating organic really improving your health?
According to information from a new stud conducted in Toronto and appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there is no data supporting the notion that organic foods are any healthier or more beneficial than regular, non organic conventional foods.
About Organic Foods
Organic food refers to food items that are produced, manufactured and handled using organic means defined by certifying bodies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its Organic Food Products Act. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1-2% of food sales worldwide.
Organic Food Regulations
Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry. Currently, the United States, Canada, Japan, the European U nion (EU) and many other countries require organic producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as “organic”. While the use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and only used as a last resort. However, what many people do NOT realize is certain non-organic fertilizers are still used. Most certifications also allow some chemical pesticides to also be used when producing organic foods. This means that there can still be several sources of chemicals used in the growing and management of “organic” food from production to market. In the growing and management of “organic” food from production to market.
Is Organic Worth the Money?
Constant debates occur over whether it is beneficial in any way to buy some produce organically.There are several studies that suggest buying organic is NOT worth the money.
According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies that protect global and individual health, the following twelve foods have the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown. Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume and buying organic here may not provide any real value for your money:
-Asparagus
-Avocados
-Bananas
-Broccoli
-Cabbage
-Eggplant
-Kiwi
-Mangos
-Onions
-Pineapples
-Sweet corn (frozen)
-Sweet peas (frozen)
The following are some of the “dirtier” foods, when it comes to chemical contamination from fertilizes and pesticides use. There are many countries that are known for heavy chemical use during food production. Many of the following foods, when tested come up high in chemical contamination, both surface and within the food itself from these farming techniques, therefore paying a little extra money for buying organic may in fact be worth the money:
-Apples
-Bell Peppers
-Celery
-Cherries
-Imported Grapes (especially from Chile)
-Nectarines
-Peaches
-Pears
-Potatoes
-Red Raspberries
-Spinach
-Strawberries
As a minimum, consider especially avoiding tomatoes, strawberries, and spinach (from Mexico), peaches, pears, and grapes from Chile, fruits and vegetables especially apples from New Zealand.
Organic Food Value Debate
Written by Jeff Behar, MS, MBA
More and more people are reaching to organic food believing that by eating organic food that they are doing their bodies good. But is eating organic really improving your health?
According to information from a new stud conducted in Toronto and appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there is no data supporting the notion that organic foods are any healthier or more beneficial than regular, non organic conventional foods.
About Organic Foods
Organic food refers to food items that are produced, manufactured and handled using organic means defined by certifying bodies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its Organic Food Products Act. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1-2% of food sales worldwide.
Organic Food Regulations
Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry. Currently, the United States, Canada, Japan, the European U nion (EU) and many other countries require organic producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as “organic”. While the use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and only used as a last resort. However, what many people do NOT realize is certain non-organic fertilizers are still used. Most certifications also allow some chemical pesticides to also be used when producing organic foods. This means that there can still be several sources of chemicals used in the growing and management of “organic” food from production to market. In the growing and management of “organic” food from production to market.
Is Organic Worth the Money?
Constant debates occur over whether it is beneficial in any way to buy some produce organically.There are several studies that suggest buying organic is NOT worth the money.
According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies that protect global and individual health, the following twelve foods have the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown. Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume and buying organic here may not provide any real value for your money:
-Asparagus
-Avocados
-Bananas
-Broccoli
-Cabbage
-Eggplant
-Kiwi
-Mangos
-Onions
-Pineapples
-Sweet corn (frozen)
-Sweet peas (frozen)
The following are some of the “dirtier” foods, when it comes to chemical contamination from fertilizes and pesticides use. There are many countries that are known for heavy chemical use during food production. Many of the following foods, when tested come up high in chemical contamination, both surface and within the food itself from these farming techniques, therefore paying a little extra money for buying organic may in fact be worth the money:
-Apples
-Bell Peppers
-Celery
-Cherries
-Imported Grapes (especially from Chile)
-Nectarines
-Peaches
-Pears
-Potatoes
-Red Raspberries
-Spinach
-Strawberries
As a minimum, consider especially avoiding tomatoes, strawberries, and spinach (from Mexico), peaches, pears, and grapes from Chile, fruits and vegetables especially apples from New Zealand.
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