Organic Foods Taste Test

These days it is costing us more and more to treat our bodies like the temples that they are. According to the USDA, organic produce costs and extra $0.13 to $0.36 per pound! Organic milk can have the most overwhelming influence on our pocketbooks costing $6 per gallon. So why am I, along with other health professionals and food experts, still recommending sticking with organic foods as much as possible?

Although the nutrients in produce are arguably similar for both conventional and organic fruits and vegetables, it's the pesticides and added chemicals we are most concerned about. The conventional milk, for example, is made from cows treated with hormones and antibiotics. The hormones are given to the cows in order to produce more milk and antibiotics are used to keep the cows healthy since they are housed is such close quarters with other milking cows. As kids gobble down their bowls of cereal, think about the milk they are slurping with every bite. The antibiotics found in the milk can lead to resistance by our immune systems and the extra hormones disrupt hormonal balance, especially in sensitive individuals.

Besides avoiding the chemical burden, taste is also an upside of organic foods. Time Magazine gathered some of the leading chefs in the industry to sit down and do a taste test comparing organic versus conventional foods. Results were overwhelmingly in favor of organic, at least for such items as chicken, white nectarines, pork, tomatoes, and eggs.

Kluger J. What's so great about organic food? Time Magazine. 2010; 176 (9): 30-46.

Cancer Prevention

The President's Cancer Panel released their 240-page report last week detailing the latest research on the links to cancer and how we can prevent it. Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, criticized the report saying it may focus too much on speculation and not enough on what we already know - that nutrition has the biggest impact on cancer prevention. According to the American Cancer Society, at least one-third of all cancer deaths are preventable through nutrition and lifestyle modifications such as physical activity and smoking.


10 Cancer Panel Recommendations

1. Drink filtered tap water
2. Store food and water in glass, stainless steel or BPA- and phthalate-free containers
3. Minimize children's and pregnant women's exposure to carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals
4. Choose fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers; wash all produce to remove residues
5. Choose free-range meat that has not been exposed to antibiotics or growth hormones
6. Minimize consumption of processed, charred or well-done meats
7. Turn off lights and electrical devices when they're not in use
8. Drive a fuel-efficient car; walk, bike or use public transportation
9. Check home radon levels
10. Reduce radiation exposure from cell phones and medical tests; avoid UV overexposure

Subscribe to the EB Nutrition monthly newsletter to receive June's newsletter, which will focus on the benefits of eating organically grown produce to help you achieve numbers four and five on the cancer prevention recommendation list!

Greenberg J. Cancer, cancer everywhere. Time Magazine. May 24, 2010. Available at: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1989138,00.html. Accessed June 3, 2010.