Lose the Toxins!!!

   
        If we are going to take all this time and effort into exercising and eating right for our health, then by all means shouldn't we care about what we put on our skin, breath into our lungs, and ingest on our "healthy" fruits and veggies (pesticides!!)????  It only makes sense. What good is it to try and prevent disease with healthy living yet ignore the world of chemicals that surround us every day and cause horrible health problems and annoying side effects in our lives? It matters. And why not do something about it if we can? I know I want to.

     Let's talk about pesticides and organic foods. First, let's clarify the terms "natural" vs. "organic". When a food is labeled "natural", there is no standard that is held to that term. That word is not monitored by the government and therefore means whatever the person labeling it as such wants it to mean. It sure sounds great, right? "All natural" seems like a great option when making a purchase... I mean who wants something "unnatural"? It sounds so good for us, clean, and healthy. Yet it means absolutely nothing. People are constantly duped by this seemingly positive term, and in their mind, they're making a healthy choice. Welcome to the world of marketing where people will put all kinds of great sounding labels on things just so you will buy it. Now this doesn't mean that everything labeled as natural is automatically fooling you, it just means that there is no one governing the use of that term. Anyone can put that label on whatever they want, whether it is true or not. Now if something has the label "USDA organic" on it, then this has been regulated by a standard, and must meet those certain standards to have that label. This is a label that you can trust with much greater certainty!

​           So what's wrong with pesticides anyway? After countless research studies done all over the world, pesticides sprayed on foods have been linked to cancers, ADHD, Alzheimers Disease, Parkinson's Disease, autism, and birth defects. That's enough for me to avoid them, for sure. If I have the option to buy food without all that, then yeah... I'm gonna do that! Some people say "well just wash your produce before you eat it". That sounds all well and good, yet the problem there is - you can't wash off pesticides. Pesticides that get sprayed into the soil where the food is grown, actually become part of that food from the inside.
     

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   Now it can be tricky at times to always have availability to ALL organic produce, and I get that. So the best thing you can do is always try to buy organic when it comes to those food items that are ranked the highest in pesticide application. This list is known as the "dirty dozen". It is most important to buy organic for the produce items listed, and this list updates every year, although many of the same dirty culprits continue to make appearances on the list each time. Produce with thin skins like grapes, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and tomatoes are usually on that list to buy organic. Apples, celery, spinach and other green leafy veggetables are also often on the list. These are the foods I most always try to buy organic. And if for some reason you would not have access to ANY organic produce, by all means the beneifts outweigh the risks here for eating your fruits and veggies even if they are NOT organic, rather than avoiding them altogether to avoid pesticides. And here's a little trick for you: did you ever wonder what those numbers mean on the stickers on your fruits and vegetables? If that number starts with a 9, it is organic. If it starts with a 4, then it is conventionally grown and may have pesticide use. Check it out! ​

          Another major issue is all the toxins in our daily health and beauty products. 1/3 of all personal care products contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens. The USDA says that because of the small amount  of chemicals in these products, that it cannot be harmful. But they are not taking into account the repetative daily usage that adds up with MULTIPLE products containing such ingredients. Your skin absorbs whatever you put on it. Those ingredients will end up in your bloodstream. I would be careful about what you put on your body, if you care. Major culprits to avoid in your personal care products are: parabens (these have been found in breast cancer tissue, and are in MANY skin and hair products), sodium laurel sulfates, triclosan (found in antibacterial soaps and some toothpaste - linked to cancer), dyes and fragrances (can disrupt your endocrine system and mess with your hormones). Another major one to avoid is alluminum, mostly found in deodorants. Alluminum has been linked to breast cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, bone disorders and kidney problems. Scary, huh? All this nasty stuff is allowed to be placed in products we use everyday. So what does this mean? It means it's up to you to read labels and seek out products that are healthier for you. Avoid the major culprits, and live a longer, healthier life... free of toxins!
   

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