Sunday, March 8, 2009

How to avoid pesticides in produce

We've all heard about the connections between pesticides in our food and cancer. Now I don't blame pesticides for what happened to me, but I do believe it was a contributing factor. With that in mind, I found the Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce from the Environmental Working Group. It ranks 43 fruits and vegetables for their residual pesticides. For instance, Anna has been very adamant about buying organic onions, but it turns out they have a very low residual pesticide level! We should have paid more attention to apples and lettuce!

Anna and I try to avoid pesticides by buying organic, local and free range. We could do a lot more, but some of our produce is organic and much of our meat is free-range, grass-fed, and hormone/antibiotic-free. (Check out our beef source at Golden Beef and our local farm at Dalew Farms.) And when we get back to Temagami this summer, I'm sure I'll get digging in the garden there again!

The photo above is last summer's garden in Temagami.

While we're talking about pocket guides, here's another one you should have. It's the Sustainable Seafood Guide from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It lists best choices and seafood to avoid, based on contaminant loads and the sustainability of the fishery.

On another note, Patricia asked about a colon cleanse. I have never done one. Having seen the inside of a number of colons during my surgical rotations as a paramedic student, I believe the notion that we store up a bunch of gunk in there that needs to be flushed out is, well, bunk. Colon cleanses even made the Mark's Daily Apple Top Ten Health Scams. Here's some more info I found, from drmirkin.com: colon cleansers can rob you of essential nutrients. With gluten and lactose intolerance already robbing me of the nutrients I need to fight cancer, I don't need something else sucking them away! Thanks for the question though!

Mom, how was the coconut-beet soup?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

evallCoconut Beet Soup - haven't made it yet. Found other things in the frig crying out to be used up first. It is on the list of things to make.

Anonymous said...

Hellooo my internet friend. I'm so glad to hear that you are well! I had a bit of a scare week before last where my PET revealed a "spot" in my chest. Turned out that my thymus had been destroyed by chemo and it was growing back - so it was simply tissue regrowing. Thank God - I continue to be amazed and grateful for how efficient our bodies are! On that note, I wanted to just ASK that you take a look at one cleanse - The Master Cleanse or The Lemonade Cleanse by Stanley Burroughs. Ever heard of it? It's unlike many of the other cleanses in that the cleanse ingredients provide all the nutrients one needs on a daily basis, throughout the 10 day cleanse. I only ask that you look at it because it is said to provide so many healthful benefits. You and I had put toxic chemicals in our bodies for months and I can't help but wonder (after some problems I've experienced since remission) if there aren't stored up toxins in my body. Toxins that even eating healthy can't remove. My joints are achy, I can't remember things, I still have not "started" again and am not going through menopause according to my doc - just lots of little things. Bob, would you just look at it and let me know your thoughts. I know that you are well read and I would appreciate your opinion.

I'd love to see some more pictures of you, Anna and Matty! Take care Bob. You Do inspire me. Patricia from Nashville.