Eating Organic Drastically Lowers Pesticide Levels in Your Body

Article by: Rodale Wellness

If you're a supporter of organic, the latest data probably won't surprise you. Still, it's good to know opting for organic is having a positive impact on your body. U.S. researchers recently proved that people who eat a primarily organic diet rich in fruits and veggies have half the levels of pesticides in their bodies.

The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, looked specifically at organophosphate insecticides, bug-killing, brain-damaging chemicals linked to autism, ADHD, and the most common form of childhood cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL), among other ills.

Researchers analyzed about 4,500 people, asking about their diet and measuring pesticide breakdown materials in their urine. Compared to people who ate a primarily organic diet, those who barely ate any organic foods had about twice the levels of pesticides in their urine. Produce most commonly tainted with organophosphates include nectarines, peaches, apples, and blueberries.

"For most Americans, diet is the primary source of organophosphate pesticide exposure," says Cynthia Curl, PhD, an assistant professor in Boise State University's School of Allied Health Sciences. "The study suggests that by eating organically grown versions of those foods highest in pesticide residues, we can make a measurable difference in the levels of pesticides in our bodies."

To see the other most pesticide-tainted produce, check out this Dirty Dozen list. (It also includes the 15 cleanest fruits and veggies.)

This is just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to the benefits of eating organic. For more, check out 11 Surprising Reasons Organic Is Better for You.

Banner image by: eatbelive.com