Many people take for granted the delicious foods that we get to eat every day. We go to the grocery store and pick out beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables from the produce section to feed to ourselves and families. Most do not know the harmful chemicals that they are putting into their bodies whenever they take a bite of that apple they just bought. Deadly chemicals called pesticides are present in many of the foods we eat. People must take precaution when buying everyday foods if they do not want to cause permanent damage to their organs, minds and bodies.
Pesticides are found in many of the foods we eat on a daily basis. According to Environmental Working Group, Shopper's Guide to Pesticides, some of the foods that have the most pesticides are fruits and vegetables like, peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce and even in some grapes! The foods listed are things that many of us eat to stay healthy and keep our body and minds in the best shape possible, but we do not realize the harmful price we pay for not knowing where these "healthy" foods come from.
The chemicals that come with the eating of these foods can cause long term side effects in some situations. We just do not notice the effects right away because, as the author of Mindreal, Robert Ornstein tells us, our minds are not complex enough to perceive in the harmful chemicals going into our bodies and the effects they have on our mind (Ornstein, 2008). A few of the long term effects that many doctors believe are associated with the use of pesticides are neurological symptoms, immune systems disorders, liver disease and asthma attacks. These are some of the main effects that pesticides have on our bodies, but they are also linked to causing different types of cancers, birth defects and in some cases miscarriages (GardenMandy.com).
Considering the awful risks that come with eating pesticide sprayed foods, there are so many easy things you can do to keep yourself safe from them. One idea is to grow your own vegetables. They may not be as big as the ones you would find at the store, but you know exactly where they come from and it cost so much less. As well, companies can choose to use methods of organic pest control, such as; neem oil, orange oil and rotenone. These are all effective ways to keep pests off crops and keep chemicals out of our bodies. The easiest thing that someone can do to stay pesticide free is to shop organically when buying fresh fruits and vegetables. Look to see if it is certified organic and even though it may cost a little more, the benefit is well worth the cost.
In many of the definitions posted online, destroy was the most common word I found to describe what a pesticide was (Dictionary.com). We have the choice to making healthy decision for ourselves and our families. All it takes is looking a little closer at the things we are putting into our bodies and maybe spending a little extra to keep us from having one heck of a hospital bill later on. Our minds and bodies are amazing things and we should be doing all that we can to keep them as safe and healthy as possible. When you take a bite of that juicy peach you just bought you don't want to harm your mind or body. So the next time you take a trip to the grocery store, try to find foods that are organic and pesticide free and you will see what a difference it can make in your well-being.