consumer misconceptions
be aware
Critics suggest that the amount of pesticides found in food is so negligible that it couldn't possibly have any harmful effects; however, studies have indicated that combinations of these pesticides are hazardous to our health.
The Labour Environmental Alliance Society's
CancerSmart Consumer Guide says:
Every year, Canadians are exposed to potentially-cancer causing chemicals in the food they eat and in the household products they use — often without any knowledge of that exposure. For example:
• At least nine different consumer pesticide products contain ingredients listed by
the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possible human carcinogens (IARC Group 2B). Another four products contain ingredients listed in California as “substances known to the state of California to cause reproductive toxicity.” None of the hazards is listed on the product labels.
Read more about pesticides being carcinogens, as well as other health alerts, at the
Labour Environmental Alliance Society website.
baby steps
While in general, organic produce is higher priced since the farmers are not subsidized like their non-organic counterparts, organic produce is not
always more expensive. Examples we found include lettuce and lemons. A good way to start introducing more organic produce into your diet is to choose produce that is similar in price to its non-organic counterparts, and work from there.
my apple is bruised!
Conventionally, produce is made to look its best. Waxes are added, bruised products are discarded, and produce is washed repeatedly in grocery stores. (This can cause leaching of nutrients!) Bruises and bumps, however, are easy to cut away and are not harmful.
feel great
There is still skepticism about organic foods' superior health benefits. To us, it simply makes sense! The research reported by the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences in February 2005 showed that rats fed organic food "were measurably healthier, slept better, had stronger immune systems and were less obese"
1 than the rats fed non-organic produce. It is logical that avoiding chemicals and consuming more nutritious food contributes to holistic health: an overall sense of wellness beyond being physically healthy. Best of all, you can feel good knowing you're supporting sustainable, healthy agriculture!
Read what some people have to say about eating organic.
related reading
"Tomatoes that resemble tennis balls, peppers that taste like small rocks, and big, red, flavorless strawberries are all a result of selective breeding for pith and water (pith is defined as the fibrous part of fruits and vegetables, such as the netting around orange sections that is usually discarded). Desirable traits for commercial growers who want produce to ship well, look good, and weigh a lot, but undesirable traits for consumers who buy produce as a source of nutrition. Plant jockeys call it the dilution effect — more water and pith, less vitamin content."
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Low Quality Food Causes Cancer? Revealed: Shocking Facts About Our Food