The post Pesticides and the Dirty Dozen Uncovered appeared first on Your Allergy Chefs.
]]>Today’s kids are growing up with a new normal of pesticide-laden food and increased food allergies.
Pesticides can cause harmful effects over an extended period, usually following continuous exposure at low levels. Low doses don’t always have an immediate impact, but over time, they can cause serious health issues.
In fact, long time pesticide exposure has absolutely been linked to dozens of health problems, including certain cancers, asthma, depression and anxiety, symptoms of ADHD, autism, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and a multitude of other issues.
Did you know that pesticides can possibly weaken food tolerance in some people, causing food allergy?
The Evidence in Studies Revealed
According to a study published in the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, pesticides and tap water could be partially to blame for food allergies. The study reported that dichlorophenols (DCPs), a chemical used in common pesticides and to chlorinate water, when found in the human body, are associated with food allergies.
DCPs also turn up in moth balls, air fresheners, deodorizer cakes in urinals, and certain herbicides sprayed on crops, “They’re quite common,” says researcher Elina Jerschow, MD, an allergist at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY.
Dr. Jerschow goes on to say, “Our research shows that high levels of DCP containing pesticides can possibly weaken food tolerance in some people, causing food allergy.”
In another study, data was collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Of the 2,211 people included in the study, most had detectable levels of DCPs in their urine. About 400 showed sensitivity to at least one food, like peanuts, eggs, or milk. People with the highest levels of the chemicals were nearly twice as likely to show sensitivity to at least one food compared to those with lowest levels of those chemicals.
This study doesn’t prove that DCPs cause food allergies. It merely shows the two are related in some way.
FACTS
Is There a Solution?
The long-term solution is to reduce pesticide use. There is so much that is beyond our control. However, there is a strategy to help protect ourselves and our families now.
Organic “IS” Better
We’re all on a budget and buying all organic can be costly. But, buy organic when you can. Above all, try to buy organic fruits and vegetables classified as the Dirty Dozen.
Whether purchasing conventional or organic, buy local fruits and vegetables.
The Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15
Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes its Dirty Dozen list, naming the fruits and vegetables that rank highest in pesticide residue. They also give a shout out to the cleanest fruits and vegetables, the Clean 15.
The USDA rotates what food it tests for pesticides with a special focus on produce that kids consume.
The Environmental Working Group’s 2017 Dirty Dozen + and Clean 15
Dirty Dozen +
Clean 15
Source: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php
Let’s take a closer look at the dirty dozen and what landed them a spot on the list.
Tidbits
Arguably, there are many natural-based pesticides that are allowed in organic farming. Most come from plants or bacteria and are processed minimally, if at all. Many organic farmers do not use pesticides, but some do.
In conclusion, to really know what you’re getting, it’s best to know your source. Buy locally and visit the farmer’s market. Talk to the farmers and ask what their methods are.
Use EWG’s Dirty Dozen to reduce your exposures as much as possible, but eating conventionally-grown produce is better than not eating fruits and vegetables at all.
The post Pesticides and the Dirty Dozen Uncovered appeared first on Your Allergy Chefs.
]]>