Health Hotline Magazine | June 2019

NATURAL GROCERS

NUTRITIONBYTES SWITCHING TO ORGANIC DIETS REDUCES PESTICIDE LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Pesticides are an increasing problem in our country and diet accounts for a significant level of exposure for the general population. A 2016 report from the Food and Drug Administration Pesticide Residue Monitoring program showed that close to 50 percent of food has detectable levels of pesticides. Pesticides have been shown to be associated with a wide range of health issues, including cognitive dysfunction, behavioral and attention problems in children, asthma, cancer, reduced fertility, and endocrine dysfunction.

A recently-published study investigated the impact of an organic diet on urinary levels of pesticide metabolites in children and adults. Each family that participated in the study was previously eating a conventional diet and their levels of urinary pesticide metabolites were measured for five days. Following the initial screening period, each family followed an organic diet for the next six days. More than 158 urine samples were collected to analyze the di erence in pesticide levels during the conventional and organic diet period.

The researchers detected fourteen di erent pesticide exposure markers among the participants, representing more than 40 di erent pesticides used in agriculture. Following the six-day organic food trial, all but one of these pesticide exposure markers decreased significantly. This study adds to the growing body of research that demonstrates the benefit of switching to an organic diet. With pesticide use on the rise, it is never too late to start eating organic. Following the six-day organic food trial... pesticide exposure markers decreased significantly

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of food has detectable levels of pesticides