Choose Organic Food to Protect Your Health
Consumers Seek to Avoid Toxic Pesticides & Chemicals
According to the Organic Trade Association,
the primary reason why people choose organic food
is to AVOID toxic pesticides and chemicals
and all the things prohibited in certified organic food. [1]
The demand for organic food is increasing, as consumers seek nutrition and healthy foods.[3] There are many reasons to choose organic foods and this article will focus on the primary reasons.
As defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are several standards that products MUST meet to be labeled as “USDA Organic” [2, 3]
- Crops are produced without conventional pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
- Crops are produced without GMOs (genetically modified seeds)
- Crops are produced without sewage byproducts or ionizing radiation
- Foods are not processed using irradiation, solvents or synthetic food additives
- Animal food products are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones
Organic standards permit some pesticides, but they can be used only after nonchemical methods, such as crop rotation, have failed. Even then, farmers can’t use pesticides that could be harmful to people or the environment.[6]
Primary Reasons to Choose Organic Food
1. Minimize Risk of Toxic Pesticides & Heavy Metals
A growing body of scientific research connects pesticide exposures to many harmful human health effects, including cancer, birth and developmental defects, liver and kidney disease, obesity, diabetes 2 and others. [46]
Non-organic (conventional produce) is allowed to be sprayed with many toxic pesticides. Approximately 40 different EPA-registered pesticides that are currently on the market are classified as either known, probable, or possible human carcinogens. [8] A carcinogen is a substance or agent that causes cancer. [9]
The PubMed article Heavy Metals and Pesticides Toxicity in Agricultural Soil & Plants: Ecological Risks and Human Health Implications [26] provides excellent information and references to completed studies about the risks of heavy metals and pesticides on human health.
Included below are direct extractions from the above referenced PubMed article about the risks of pesticides and heavy metals Cadmium, Lead, Copper & Zinc, which includes the source reference numbers used in the PubMed article to help you easily read the information, along with the source references provided in the article. The PubMed article is very long and some of the extractions have been edited to simplify the information.
What are Pesticides?
Pesticides are widely used for controlling harmful weeds, fungi, bacteria, and insect infestations in the agricultural field [52]. Agricultural fields are the largest consumer, which represent about 85% of the global production of pesticides.
Pesticides can be primarily classified as:
- Herbicides (weed killer)
- Insecticides (insect killer)
- Fungicides (fungi killer)
- Bactericides (bacteria killer)
Recently, about 2 million tons of pesticides are used globally as:
Globally, the top-ranked pesticide consuming countries are China, followed by the USA, Argentina, Thailand, Brazil, Italy, France, Canada, Japan, and India [51].
Risks of Pesticides
Pesticide poisoning is a global public health concern, with almost 300,000 deaths every year worldwide. Consumers and workers in the pesticides sector, transporters of these hazardous substances, farmers, crop vendors are subjected to various pesticide concentrations [258].
Pesticide exposure is inevitable; there are multiple methods in which people are exposed to pesticides [257]. There are four common ways pesticides could enter the human body:
Pesticide toxicity varies based on the type of exposure [24]. The risk of pesticide contamination related to health hazards depends not only on how harmful the products are, but also on the extent of the exposure dose [22].
Many pesticides resist degradation (persistent organic pollutants) and remain in the environment for a long time.
The excessive and uncontrolled use of pesticides on different crop species leads to harmful effects on humans, and beneficial biota including honey bees, predators, birds, plants, and small mammals.
Pesticides are Linked to Many Health Conditions
Pesticide exposure causes many hazardous health effects, such as:
- Cancer
- Asthma
- Endocrine (hormone) disruption
- Genetic damages
- Plays an important role in Parkinson’s disease promotion
- DNA damage of sperm
Pesticide toxicity is commonly known to cause life-threatening diseases including many types of cancer [262, 263, 264]
- Studies revealed a close relationship between pesticides and cancer development in both adults and children. The people closely associated with pesticide exposure were reported to be at a high-risk level for numerous malignancies such as:
- Neuroblastoma
- Leukemia
- Soft tissue sarcoma
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Wilm’s tumor
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Rectum cancer
Epidemiological studies investigated that environmental factors (e.g., pesticides) play a key role in Parkinson’s disease initiation.
Freire and Koifman [267] and Brouwer et al. [268] documented a relationship between Parkinson’s Disease and some pesticides use, such as herbicides (paraquat), insecticides (organophosphate and rotenone), and fungicides (cyprodinil, fenhexamid, and thiophanate-methyl).
Most studies were conducted to discover a correlation between pesticide exposure and Parkinson’s Disease.
- The findings showed a significant positive relationship between them
- Paraquat herbicide was confirmed to be positively correlated with the increased risk of Parkinson’s Disease.
Many diseases are linked with these pesticide toxicants [261, 265, 266]
- Most of these disorders can be fatal if they are untreated and compromise an individual’s life quality
- Several epidemiological and clinical studies have documented a relationship between pesticide toxicity and symptoms of bronchial hyper-reactivity and asthma.
- Pesticide exposure may lead to the exacerbation of asthma by inflammation, irritation, or immunosuppression [261,265].
- Emerging scientific pieces of evidence showed that exposure to pesticides may cause Diabetes 2:
- Exposure to pesticides, specifically organochlorines and their metabolites, is reported to impart a high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and its comorbidities [266].
The majority of pesticides influence the male reproductive pathways by: [270]
- Reducing sperm activities (e.g., counts, viability, density, and motility),
- Suppression of spermatogenesis
- Decreasing testis weights
- Impairing sperm DNA
Pesticides inhibit the activity of endocrine hormones or imitate these hormones, which:
- Decrease fertility [271]
- Cause genital tract abnormalities in both males and females [271].
- They also cause altered immune function and numerous forms of cancer [272].
Exposure to pesticides at adequate doses could: [269]
- Increase sperm abnormalities
- Fetal growth retardation
- Decrease aberrant fertility abortions
- Risk of birth defects
Risks of Heavy Metals
Fertilizers and pesticides produce heavy metals in the soil. Heavy metals and pesticides cause harmful implications for human health. Daily exposure to heavy metals and pesticide toxicants increases the threat to human body organs.
Among the agricultural sources of heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage sludge are the most common [28]. The toxic heavy metals vary in nature and the way of accumulation, whether in soil or plants.
Phosphate fertilizers, liming materials, and bio-fertilizers
are the main types of inorganic fertilizers that contribute to
the release of heavy metals in agricultural soil and are then taken up by plants [41]
As a result, heavy metals enter into the food chain
and reach animals and humans. [42]
The high level of heavy metal concentrations influences both soil and plants. Heavy metals can cause severe damage to the soil and plants when they are highly concentrated.
Heavy metals are considered one of the most critical toxicants among the multilayered soil and environmental pollutants. [213, 214] Therefore, heavy metals are assumed as toxicants [63].
- Due to the toxic effects, long-term accumulation, heavy metal pollution, even at low concentrations, has attracted widespread attention.
- The existence of heavy metals in the ecosystem increases the potential intake of these toxins.
Negative Effects of Heavy Metals & Pesticide Toxicity on Human Health
Various illnesses and diseases associated with the toxicity of heavy metals cadmium, lead, copper and zinc are shown in the chart below (Figure 8 in the referenced PubMed article).
- Heavy metals can accumulate in many body organs, including kidney, liver & bones
- Accumulation of these metals causes harmful damage to various body systems, such as nervous, skeletal, endocrine, immune, and circulatory systems. [215, 216]
- Almost all cells and tissues of the human system could be affected by heavy metals.
Mercury (Hg) are Arsenic (As) are additional toxic heavy metals that can cause many health issues. However, this referenced PubMed article and the chart above does not include the toxic risks of Mercury or Arsenic.
Health Risks of Heavy Metal: Lead (Pb)
Lead has been listed as a hazardous heavy metal pollutant due to its high toxicity [72].
Lead has a broad spectrum of negative impacts on Body Systems [243]
- Common symptoms that are predominantly non-specific include:
- Decreasing the cognitive function in adults
- Behavioral defects in children
- Miscarriage in females
- Infertility in males
- Other common symptoms are:
- Anemia
- Renal dysfunction
- Hypertension
- Abdominal colic
- Lead exposure is extremely serious to the fetus due to its cross through the placenta, and it can also induce adverse birth effects, including preterm birth. [244]
- Lead results in neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity disorders (deterioration of kidney function) and affects heme synthesis. [245]
Health Risks of Heavy Metal: Cadmium (Cd)
Cadmium exposure affects the Reproductive system & fertility: [240]
- Affects male reproductive systems and semen quality
- Impairs spermatogenesis, particularly hormonal synthesis/release and sperm motility.
- According to clinical and human trials, Cadmium also impairs fertility, reproductive hormonal equilibrium, and affects menstrual cycles.
Cadmium toxicity has been associated with: [238]
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Diabetes
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
Cadmium and its compounds can interfere in: [237]
- Calcium metabolism
- Renal tubular dysfunction
Epidemiological studies documented that exposure to Cadmium: [239]
- May promote the development of musculoskeletal diseases, such as:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis
Health Risks of Heavy Metal: Copper (Cu)
Copper is a toxic element that can be found in high concentrations in the brain, liver, and kidneys. [248]
Copper toxicity typically induces: [249]
- Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects such as stomach pain
- Hematemesis
- Melena
- Jaundice
- Anorexia
- Vomiting combined with erosive gastropathy
- Altered mentation, coma, headache, and tachycardia may also accompany GI side effects. [250]
- Patients with intravascular Copper (Cu) toxicity (i.e., impaired hemodialysis fluid infusion) may show signs/symptoms of intravascular hemolysis
- Neurological symptoms, such as exhaustion, depression, irritability, agitation, and concentration difficulties were also reported.
- Excess Copper (Cu) concentrations induce oxidative stress and DNA damage, and reduce cell proliferation. [252]
In most acute forms, Copper toxicity results in: [251]
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Heart and renal failure
- Methemoglobinemia
- Intravascular hemolysis
- Hepatic necrosis
- Encephalopathy
Effect of Heavy Metals on Children’s Health
The effects of heavy metals on children’s health have become more severe than adults. More consideration should be given to heavy metals due to their high toxicity risk, extensive application, and prevalence [218].
Risks of Cadmium on Children
- Cadmium (Cd) toxicity can cause renal damage, which are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction
- Cadmium exposure resulted in osteoporosis [220], pediatric cancer, and it has been related to stunted development in children [221].
- Cadmium exposure was adversely correlated with infant size at birth (height and weight). [222]
Risks of Lead on Children
- Lead (Pb) exposure is one of the most common preventable poisonings of childhood.
- Children are particularly vulnerable to Lead (Pb) toxicity and suffer neurological deficits affecting the learning ability and behavior [223].
- Lead toxicity in infants can lead to damage to multiple organ systems [224].
Children exposed to Lead showed:
- Inattentiveness
- Hyperactivity and irritability
Extremely high Lead exposure levels have been found to cause:
- An increase in dullness & irritability
- Shorter attention span in the central nervous system, subsequently resulting in seizures, epilepsy, coma, headache, and even death [226].
End of the Heavy Metals and Pesticides Toxicity in Agricultural Soil & Plants: Ecological Risks and Human Health Implications [26] PubMed article extraction.
Pesticide Alert from Pesticide Action Network
The Pesticide Action Network UK indicates that toxic pesticides can cause harmful effects over an extended period of time and have been linked to health concerns, including: [5]
- Cancer
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- ADHD
- Development of Parkinson’s disease
The Pesticide Action Network UK also indicates that toxic pesticides can also cause harmful or lethal effects after a single episode of skin contact, inhalation or ingestion, including: [5]
- Respiratory tract irritation, sore throat and/or cough
- Allergic sensitization
- Eye and skin irritation
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Headache, loss of consciousness
- Extreme weakness, seizures and/or death
EWG Annual Testing of Pesticides on Produce
The EWG Dirty DozenTM are the top twelve conventional (non-organic) fruits and vegetables found with the highest levels of pesticides.
According to EWG’s 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in ProduceTM, nearly 75 percent of non-organic (also called conventional) fresh produce sold in the U.S. contains residues of potentially harmful pesticides.[4]
The Dirty DozenTM produce list is updated annually by EWG to help you protect your health to help you avoid the most highly pesticide sprayed conventional fruits and vegetables and purchase them as organic instead.
Avoid the Dirty DozenTM Produce
EWGs 2023 Dirty DozenTM list includes:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Peaches
- Pears
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Bell & Hot Peppers
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Green Beans
The Dirty DozenTM Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce listed above can also be found on the EWG website here.. You can enter your name and email address on this web page, for a downloadable and printable list of the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 Produce list.
It is recommended that you carry this list with you in your wallet to help you when shopping or ordering at restaurants to help you avoid the most highly sprayed produce to protect your health.
The EWG Clean 15 produce are the least sprayed fruits and vegetables. However, note that these fruits and vegetables may also be sprayed with toxic pesticides if they are not certified organic. The best way to minimize your exposure to toxic pesticides and GMOs is to choose organic produce when possible.
The 2023 EWG Shopper’s Guide includes data from 46,569 samples of 46 different fruits and vegetables:
- EWG’s testing found that even after peeling or scrubbing and washing produce, they found 251 different pesticides.[4]
- Many pesticides were found in high quantities on too much of the produce that millions of Americans eat every day.[4]
- Many peer reviewed scientific studies have shown concerning links between pesticides human health issues.[4]
Below are some of the results from EWG’s Dirty DozenTM testing in 2023:[4]
- All of the produce on the Dirty DozenTM list had at least one produce sample with at least 13 different pesticides (and some had as many as 23 pesticides)
- A total of 210 pesticides were found on the Dirty DozenTM produce
- Of those, over 50 different pesticides were detected on every type of crop on the list, except cherries
- The most pesticides detected of any crops was:
- 103 pesticides for kale, collard and mustard greens
- 101 pesticides found on hot peppers and bell peppers
Choosing organic fruits and vegetables
can almost immediately reduce
the amount of pesticide residues in a person’s body,
because the harmful chemicals are avoided. [4]
Research from Harvard University shows that consuming fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticides may decrease the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption, including protection from cardiovascular disease and mortality. [4]
2. Avoid GMOs / Bioengineered Foods & Toxic Pesticide Glyphosate
What are GMOs / Bioengineered Foods?
GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are modified with transgenic techniques, which began in the mid-1990s.[27] Foods that use genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are referred to as genetically modified foods (GM/GMO foods), genetically engineered foods (GE foods) and more recently bioengineered foods (BE foods).[28]
Genetic modification of living organisms (GMOs), through genetic engineering, produces combinations of animal, plant, bacteria and virus genes that do not normally occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. [28]
In 2022, the term GMO was replaced with Bioengineered Food (BE). The new law put into place in 2022 called the “National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard” is regulated on a federal level with the goal to provide more information to people on the foods they purchase and help lead to standardization of food labeling for Bioengineered Foods (BE Foods). [28]
The updated law does provide more transparency for consumers, including the option for QR codes to scan to get more information about the food someone is buying, but there are also many exceptions that don’t require the GMO / BE Food labeling. [28] The labeling standards are slightly improving but still far from perfect. [28]
What Foods are Genetically Modified / Bioengineered?
Here are some of the common GMO / BE foods to avoid: [28]
- Animal Products (conventional non-organic meats and dairy)
- Corn
- Soy
- Canola
- Alfalfa
- Sugar Beets (a top source for refined sugar)
- Cotton (cottonseed oil)
- Papaya (GMO papaya is grown in Hawaii or China)
- Summer Squash / Zucchini
- Microbes and Enzymes (cooking and processing agents that are hard to track because they’re often not even listed on food labels)
- Apples
- Potatoes
Other Common Genetically Modified foods to avoid: [28]
- Vegetable oil
- Vegetable fat and margarines that are made with soy, corn, cottonseed and/or canola oil
- Ingredients that come from GMO / BE soybeans, including:
-
- Soy flour
- Soy protein
- Soy isolates
- Soy isoflavones
- Soy lecithin
- Vegetable proteins
- Tofu
- Tamari
- Tempeh
- Soy protein supplements
- Ingredients derived from GMO / BE corn like:
-
- Corn flour
- Corn masa and corn meal
- Corn starch
- Corn syrup
- High fructose corn syrup
Major Health Risks of GMOs
According to the Center for Food Safety, these are some of the main human health concerns for GMO / BE Foods, including: [28]
- Cancer
- Toxicity – GE / BE foods are inherently unstable
- Allergic Reactions – may make allergies worse
- Antibiotic Resistance – antibiotic resistant genes in GMOs could be transferred to human gut bacteria
- Loss of Nutrition – some research reports lower levels of desirable nutrients in certain GMO crops compared to conventional crops
Major Health Risks of Glyphosate – A Toxic Pesticide
What is Glyphosate?
Round Up (which contains the toxic chemical glyphosate), is the most commonly used toxic pesticide (herbicide) in the world, is commonly used in the production of GMO/BE crops and NON-GMO crops. [29, 30, 34]
Developed in 1974, the pesticide (specifically an herbicide) is designed to control weeds, grasses and broadleaf plants in both farmland and home gardens, mainly with its active ingredient, a chemical called glyphosate.
The purpose of GMO seeds is to allow the entire crop and weeds to be sprayed with pesticides without killing the crop. Roundup® can then be used liberally on fields without the GMO crops dying.[34] Glyphosate is most frequently used in agriculture to kill weeds in GMO crops that have been genetically engineered to survive glyphosate use (particularly corn, soybeans, and cotton). [33]
GMO farmers now spray Roundup-resistant GMO crops broadly and without fear of destroying crops because GMO seeds are designed to survive after being sprayed with the glyphosate chemical. [30] As a result, the levels of glyphosate sprayed on crops today is much higher than in the past.[30]
Over time, the emergence of glyphosate-resistant weeds has become widespread, and this has also led to farmers using vastly increased volumes of Roundup® to try to maintain crop yields. [34]
Glyphosate is carcinogenic and lawsuits have linked glyphosate to cancer. [35] Glyphosate causes physical damage to the body that can lead to cancer and we need to protect our own health and the health of our children. [35]
Toxic Glyphosate Also Used as Desiccant on GMO & Non-GMO Crops
Glyphosate is also used on a large number of NON-GMO crops as a pre-harvest desiccant or to ripen the crops early. [29, 33, 34]
For many non-organic farmers using glyphosate as a desiccant (a drying agent), has become a common practice that until recently was not general public knowledge. [29] Using glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant dries out the crop faster, enabling farmers to speed up the harvesting process. [29]
Pre-harvest glyphosate use (also known as “desiccation” to dry out the crop) is a lesser-known use of glyphosate that has begun receiving greater scrutiny, since it may be greatly increasing glyphosate residues on a wide range of crops.[33] Regulation of glyphosate lacks transparency and is unlikely to sufficiently protect consumers, farmworkers, and communities from harm. [33]
Another problem with use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant is that crops are harvested shortly after being sprayed. [34] That means that glyphosate is present at high levels in many common food crops, and these crops are often labelled as “natural” and NON-GMO, which can, understandably, cause confusion for consumers. [34]
While most farmers spray the crops after they reach maturity, which kills the weeds and makes for easier harvesting, some farmers also use glyphosate to force their crops to ripen early. [34]
The crops most commonly sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant are: [29, 35]
- oats, lentils, legumes/beans, wheat, barley, rye, potatoes, peas, millet, sugar beets, corn, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, linseed and flax.
What are the Health Risks of Glyphosate?
As specified in this Dr. Axe article Monsanto Roundup Linked to Infertility and Cancer, the Round Up pesticide (made with the chemical glyphosate) is linked to many very concerning illness, diseases and health risks, including: [30]
- Cancer [30]
- Infertility [30]
- Research shows that glyphosate’s ability to inhibit certain enzymes in the human body actually increase environmental toxins and induce disease: [30]
- Glyphosate has been linked to: gastrointestinal disorders, neurological disorders, obesity, diabetes, autoimmunity, liver disease, heart disease, depression, autism, fertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.” [30, 31, 35]
- Glyphosate has also been linked to: Parkinson’s Disease and prion (transmissible & fatal brain) diseases. [30, 31]
- In the medical journal The Lancet, scientists discussed several studies that showed people with occupational glyphosate exposure (like farmers), had increased risks for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, even after the study was adjusted for other pesticides. [30]
How Do You Know What Foods are Not Genetically Modified?
USDA Organic Foods
Non Genetically Genetically Modified / Non Bioengineered foods are labeled as USDA Organic and NON-GMO.
The best way to ensure you are not consuming GMO / BE foods and foods sprayed with the pesticide glyphosate (or any other toxic pesticides) is to purchase USDA Certified Organic foods. [29]
GMOs are prohibited in organic foods and products. [30] Organic farmers cannot plant GMO / BE seeds; organic cows cannot eat GMO corn, and organic foods cannot contain GMO ingredients. [30]
Organic farmers cannot legally use glyphosate (or any other toxic pesticides) at any point in food production, and their crops are highly regulated and monitored carefully during the certification process. If contamination from any chemical, including glyphosate, is present, organic farmers cannot sell that crop as certified organic. [2, 3, 6, 29]
USDA Organic certification, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is an organic safety certification – the ingredients are agricultural (natural and non-chemical) based and products contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients. You can learn more at www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/labeling#what%20requirements
Due to rain water, animal manure, streams, rivers or wind drift carrying pesticides, herbicides or fungicides from conventional (non-organic) crops, it is possible that certified organic foods can contain glyphosate and heavy metals, however, products with certified organic ingredients cannot legally be sprayed with toxic chemicals and pesticides. [35]
Organic crops are vulnerable to contamination from conventional neighboring crops that may use glyphosate to dry their crops, but the levels found from this type of contamination are extremely low. [29]
You can also buy locally grown organic produce at your local farmer’s markets or through local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) coops. You can learn more about how to choose a CSA or Farmer’s Market here.
Look for farmers at your local farmer’s markets that have Organic signs on their stands indicating that their produce and products are certified organic. It is recommended that you talk to the farmers to confirm their organic farming practices. Here are some questions you can ask local farmers at the Farmer’s Market.
NON-GMO Foods
The NON-GMO Project, was created to give consumers the informed choice they deserve, aims to provide consumers with “the most accurate, up-to-date standards for NON-GMO verification.” In order for a product to be NON-GMO Project Verified, it must be evaluated for compliance with the NON-GMO Project standards, which categorizes foods into the following risk levels: High, Low, Non and Monitored. [28]
A NON-GMO food is a food that HAS NOT been genetically modified. The NON-GMO Project seal (shown on the left) is a way for consumers to know that a food item has passed its guidelines and is a verified NON-GMO product.
As mentioned previously, glyphosate is also used on a large number of NON-GMO crops as a desiccant (drying agent) or to ripen crops early. Due to widespread testing of food products, it has been found that glyphosate residue can be found on many NON-GMO crops and products as well. [29]
The best way to minimize your exposure to GMO / BE foods and foods sprayed with the pesticide glyphosate (or any other toxic pesticides) is to purchase USDA Certified Organic foods. [29]
3. Benefit from More Nutrition
Plants get their nutrients from the soil. [45] Healthy, nutritious food starts with healthy soil. [45] Organic and regenerative organic farming practices make soil health a priority. [45]
Healthier soil grows healthier plants, and healthier plants are more nutritious plants. [45]
Rodale Institute is investigating the links between soil health and human health and proving that organic can feed the world through their Vegetable and Farming Systems Trial. [45]
Rodale Institute’s Vegetable Systems Trial is the first-ever long-term study designed explicitly to compare the nutrient densities of vegetable crops grown in organic and conventional systems under controlled conditions. [45]
For more than 40 years, the Farming Systems Trial (FST) at Rodale Institute has applied real-world practices and rigorous scientific analysis to document the different impacts of organic and conventional grain cropping systems. [46]
The scientific data gathered from Rodale Institute’s research has established that organic management matches or outperforms conventional agriculture in ways that benefit farmers and lays a strong foundation for designing and refining agricultural systems that can improve the health of people and the planet. [46]
- Their decades-long trial is evidence that after a transition period, organic systems can match the yields of conventional systems and even surpass them by as much as 40% in times of drought. [45]
4. Eliminate the Toxic Effects of Industrial Agriculture
Organic Farming Protects Humans, Water, Soil, Animals & the Environment
According to the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, organic farming yields such vital benefits as preservation of soil’s organic composition. [43]
Organic farmers utilize practices that:
- Maintain and improve fertility, soil structure and biodiversity, and reduce erosion
- Reduce the risks of human, animal, and environmental exposure to toxic materials
Organic Farming Eliminates the Effects of Toxic Pesticides and Fertilizers
Many toxic pesticides and fertilizers are used in conventional farming, which results in accumulation of pesticides and heavy metals in the soil, which harms the soil, humans and animals. Many pesticides resist degradation (persistent organic pollutants) and remain in the environment for a long time. [26]
Only about one percent of the pesticides entering rivers degrade, so long stretches of waterways and the oceans suffer the direct impact of a pesticide’s active ingredient. [42] The pesticides can bioaccumulate. [42]
While most of these pesticides are applied on land, some portion of everything on land gets into water and ends up in the ocean eventually – pesticides are no exception. [42]
Over one billion pounds of conventional pesticides are used in the U.S. each year. [46] Globally, approximately 3.3 million tons of pesticides are applied to crops every year. [42]
Plants get their nutrients from the soil. [45] Industrial agriculture has depleted soils worldwide and bred plants for size and rate of growth – not nutrition – in a narrow pursuit of ever-increasing yields. [45] The food we eat today contains less protein, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin, and vitamin C than food produced just a half-century ago. [45]
The PubMed article referenced earlier in this blog Heavy Metals and Pesticides Toxicity in Agricultural Soil & Plants: Ecological Risks and Human Health Implications [26] provides excellent information and about the effects of pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals on soil.
Included below are direct extractions from the PubMed article about the risks of pesticides and heavy metals on the soil. The PubMed article is very long and some of the extractions have been edited to simplify the information.
- Excessive use of fertilizers for a long time resulting in heavy metals accumulation in agricultural soils reduces soil fertility, and consequently decreases plant growth and productivity. [37] It is extremely challenging to recover the soil environment after heavy metals contaminate the soil. Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), and Cadmium (Cd) have a higher accumulation potential in agricultural soil due to the long-term use of fertilizers. [38]
- Heavy metals are considered one of the most critical toxicants among the soil and environmental pollutants. [40,41]
- Heavy metals can cause severe damage to the soil and plants when they are highly concentrated.. The high level of heavy metal concentrations influences both soil and plant.
- The excessive and uncontrolled use of pesticides on different crop species leads to harmful effects on humans and beneficial biota, including honey bees, predators, birds, plants, and small mammals. [26]
5. Learn More About Why to Choose Organic
If you would like to learn more about why choosing organic food is important, and learn about organic practices, you can learn more this article 15 Reasons to Eat Organic [47] by Only Organic.
REFERENCES
[1] https://www.startribune.com/americans-are-eating-more-organic-food-than-ever-survey-finds/424061513/
[2] https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2404-organic-industry-healthy-growth.html
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8432837/
[4] https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
[5] https://www.pan-uk.org/health-effects-of-pesticides/
[6] https://www.consumerreports.org/pesticides-in-food/stop-eating-pesticides-a1094738355/
[7] Roberts, J.R., Karr, C.J.; Council on Environmental Health. (2012).
Technical Report: Pesticide exposure in children. Pediatrics 130(6): e1765-e1788.
[8] Roberts, J.R., Karr, C.J.; Council on Environmental Health. (2012).
Technical Report: Pesticide exposure in children. Pediatrics 130(6): e1765-e1788.
[9] https://www.rxlist.com/carcinogen/definition.htm
[10] https://draxe.com/nutrition/how-to-stay-hydrated/
[11] Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, Pages 5-18, 20, 22
[12] https://thesynergycompany.com/collections/superfoods/products/pure-synergy-12-5-oz
[13] https://turmeric.healthrangerstore.com/organic-turmeric-root-powder
[14] https://drjockers.com/turmeric-benefits-chronic-disease
[15] https://thesynergycompany.com/blogs/news/the-original-organic-green-superfood
[16] https://thesynergycompany.com/collections/superfoods/products/pure-synergy-12-5-oz
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