We had a great few weeks of vacation, got in a quick trip to the mountains, and are back into full swing now. We are still harvesting okra and peppers but are excited about our own little "planting party" we will be having in mid September.
As summer season ends and fall is just around the corner, we are reminded again how important it is for our health and the health of the planet for us to eat and feed our families organically grown food.
There is no substitute- not local, not sustainable, not natural. When you buy products labeled USDA organic you greatly reduce your exposure to persistent, toxic herbicides and pesticides, which have been linked to birth defects, cancer, and other serious health problems.
September is Organic Food Month!!
Below is the first in a series of articles we will be posting on the benefits of organically grown food.
Protecting Children
Few parents have time in their busy days to keep up with the latest research on children's health. There are two recent studies, though, of which all parents should be aware. The first was published in May 2010 by the prestigious President's Cancer Panel, which monitors and executes activities of the National Cancer program and reports directly to President Obama.
The report, entitled "Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now," found that exposure to environmental contaminants, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the overuse of antibiotics and growth hormones in the food chain, can be harmful to human health and increase the risk of contracting cancer. It went on to note that "children can be exposed to toxins in utero via placental transfer and/or after birth via breast milk."
On May 17, 2010, a similarly compelling study published in the journal
Pediatrics concluded that exposure to organophosphate pesticides (compounds used in agriculture to kill pests) at levels common among U.S. children may contribute to a prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in these children. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the study analyzed the levels of pesticide metabolites in the urine of 1,139 children ages 8 to 15, and found children with above-average levels had roughly twice the odds of being diagnosed with ADHD.
Both of these studies highlight the importance of minimizing young children's exposure to even low levels of chemical pesticides. In doing so, they also implicitly speak to the importance of choosing organic products.
By law, products bearing the USDA organic label are prohibited from being grown and processed using toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In fact, organic food production and processing is the only system that uses certification and inspection to verify that these chemicals are not used.
When your children's health is on the line, Organic.
It is worth it!
by: Rose, Jennifer. "Protecting Children."
Buyorganic!
*Also, we added a peanuts dry roasted recipe to our Nutritional Notes and Recipes page on the right so make sure and check it out if you want to enjoy a simple snack. Just be sure and get organic peanuts of course. :)
