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Summer has rolled around. Time for the great outdoors, cookouts, and bonfires. A time of fun and sunshine. Fresh veggies and fruits are available everywhere! From the grocery store markets, farmer’s markets, and even those random vendors set up on the side of the road.
Eating fresh is something that I wholeheartedly believe in, but… I believe that we should eat fresh and organic. Why organic? I’m glad you asked!
Not only does the organic certification ensure there are no harmful chemicals on our food, it also guarantees that they are not GMOs. Among other things, GMOs are often engineered to be used in conjunction with a single harmful chemical, such as Round-Up or Agent Orange.
This leads us to our next set of questions. Why are GMO's a bad thing? What kind of chemicals?
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are created when a gene from one species is transferred to another, creating something that would not be found in nature.
GMOs are not natural and the consequences of using them (as the article above shows) can be disastrous! Add that to the fact that un-organic produce is being sprayed with a variety of non-natural chemicals, including Glyphosate, which is linked to many health issues such as:
endocrine disruption, which results in the interference of the hormonal system
changes to thyroid function
adverse effects on the male and female reproductive system
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
adverse effects on the gut microbiome
And that is just part of the list…thus the reason for us to be picky about what kind of produce we buy. By purchasing organic we can eat all the healthy veggies we want and bypass the harmful chemicals and GMOs. I came across several articles claiming there was no difference between organic and non-organic, but that is simply not true. Glyphosate is not allowed to be used on certified organic crops.
Used by farmers and agricultural workers across the globe, glyphosate is the active ingredient in herbicides. It is one of the most common environmental pollutants, with glyphosate residues being found in personal care products, tap water, rainwater, sports fields, public parks, lawns, waterways, animal feed, and many of the conventional foods you eat every day. The stance that glyphosate is harmless to humans has been long maintained, with claims even stating it is “safer than table salt”.
Other articles claim there is nothing wrong with GMOs and glyphosate, but if you dig deeper, it is hard to deny the health risks that are associated with chemical use. GMOs are not natural and our bodies have a hard utilizing the nutrition that is in them and they can increase many health risks such as cancer.
Our bodies need lots of fresh veggies! Real fruits and veggies! They are so good for us for so many reasons! Growing your own vegetables is the best choice but if that’s not possible then purchasing and eating freshly grown organic fruits and vegetables is the best way to ensure no preservatives, chemicals, or dyes have been added to your food. Produce loses its nutritional value over time, so the quicker it is eaten, the more nutrients that can be gained from it and it tastes better!
So, who is with me? Shall we go eat some fresh organic veggies and fruits and take one step toward a Happy Healthy Summer?
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