Do you ever think about what went into growing that apple or bowl of cherries you’re about to eat? Sadly, unless you are eating organic produce or grew it organically yourself, your diet may not be nearly as healthy as you think it is. Since the 1940s, the use of pesticides has increased 10-fold. In fact, it is estimated that more than 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides are utilized in growing agricultural products in the United States every year.
What You Eat Can Kill You
It is easy to be lulled into thinking that it’s only a little bit of pesticides that you ingest every time you eat a piece of commercially grown produce. The reality is that even a little bit of pesticide ingestion can wreak havoc on your body. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are more than 55 pesticides that are commonly used to grow foods commercially that contain cancer-causing chemicals.
In addition to cancer-causing chemicals, numerous pesticides also contain endocrine disruptors. These chemicals have been known to cause changes to hormones in humans. Endocrine disruptor chemicals can cause feminizing characteristics in males and masculine characteristics in females.
Dangerous neurotoxins are also present in many pesticides. They may interrupt cognitive development in children and contribute to dementia symptoms in adults.
What to Do?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to simply wash commercially grown produce and be rid of pesticide residue. Once the chemicals enter your body, they are stored in fat reserves for decades to come.
Instead of eating fruits and vegetables commercially produced with the use of pesticides, consider buying and eating organically grown products. If you decide you want to grow your own foods, avoid using chemical pesticides on your garden, lawn or house.
– The Alternative Daily