Strawberries, spinach, potatoes, and many other fruits and veggies – we all relish them. However, unfortunately most of them are covered in pesticides and insecticides when they arrive at our doorsteps.
Chemical-laced smoothies and salads aren’t my idea of an ideal meal for the family – I’m sure you’d agree. And it’s not just what’s on the inside that matters, but also what’s outside these fruits and veggies.
Have you ever wondered why there’s a noticeable deterioration in the quality of fruits and vegetables these days? There are a many reasons for it. Over- farming, excessive use of fertilizers, and increasing pollution are some of them. Soil degradation also indirectly affects human nutrition and health because of the nutrition it passes on to the plants – healthy soil produces healthy crops.
We need fruits and especially vegetables in our diet. As an option to traditionally grown produce, we can always look at opting for organic produce that has lower levels of synthetic pesticides in it. This translates into reduced pesticide levels in the body. But the million dollar question is: if you live in an Indian metro city, how to purchase organic? And how do you KNOW it really is organic? I have spent excessive time last 4 years trying to source real organic produce, but its extremely seasonal and not much of a choice, and deliveries so unreliable that I have mostly given up.
Here are some alarming facts:
- Dietary pesticide exposure within the range of typical human exposure may be associated with adverse reproductive consequences.
- A recent study reveals a connection between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and pesticides commonly used on fruits and vegetables.
Monocrotophos, Oxydemetonmethyl, Acephate are all banned in most countries but widely used in india. Why? They are effective and produce results, but it comes with a high cost.. when we – and our children – over a period of time keep consuming trace doses of this, the cumulative effect becomes an issue…
Here are some stats on the the foods in india, most likely to have pesticide residues:
– Oranges 97.98
– Flour / Atta 96.83%
– Grapes 91.33
Oxytoxin – an animal hormone, is widely used by farmers to artificially pump up growth in fruits and vegetables
Yes, the pesticide residues obviously has an impact. What kills a small bug does not kill a full grown human… but consumed over and over again in small quantities it does have an impact, not just on insects.
Eating wholesome fruits and vegetables has been recommended for generations. But over time, we’ve also witnessed a nutrient collapse in the produce available in the market. We can attempt at washing/scrubbing/boiling the chemicals away. But it’s always a good idea to ensure that to bridge the gap, you and your family get enough essential nutrition from organic, food-based fruit and vegetable supplements that help you reach the optimum level of nutrition that’s required. Because on a daily basis, your body NEEDS optimum levels of vitamins and minerals and phytofactors.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25199954
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/130/6/e1757.full.pdf
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2659557?redirect=true
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02652030110113799
