By Fredrica Syren, a.k.a Green Mom:
Ever since our kids were born, we have eaten only organic food in our home, but so many people question our choice and even will tell me about study after study that “prove” organic is no better. Here in Sweden, a major grocery chain and the Swedish Environmental Research Institute ran an experiment on a family of five who had never eaten organic food before. The goal of this test was not to see if organic food was better, but rather to address what kind of immediate difference eating organic food can make inside the body.
Before the 21-day experiment began, each member submitted a urine sample to the SERI laboratory. The analysts found a number of insecticides, fungicides and plant growth regulators in those samples. The family then switched to an all organics regimen that included not only diet but also soaps and personal care items. During the organics phase, the researchers took daily urine samples from all family members.
After just 21 days, the results were dramatic. The pesticide loads in the family members’ bodies dropped in ways that were observable after a single day, according to the report. At the end of the experiment, there was very little evidence of the pesticides and other compounds in their follow-up urine samples.
I knew that eating organic was better for our bodies, but how fast you can remove pesticides from your body after switching was news to me.
However, there are still so many other reasons to eat organic rather than conventional foods — number one being our environment. The pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables are extremely damaging to the environment and our planet.
As for me, I will continue eating organic food simply because I think it tastes better, I don’t want to pollute the planet, and — of course — I don’t want to pollute my kids’ bodies.
