children and the dirty dozen
Often people make healthy lifestyle changes when they become parents. Parents want what’s best for their kids, and increasingly, organic products are becoming part of these lifestyle transitions. Clear signs of this movement can be found in the rapidly expanding organic baby food and organic baby clothing industries.
Organic food is very likely even more important for children than it is for adults. Children eat much more food than adults do in relation to their weight. They are also affected more quickly and easily by the foods they ingest. This is why it’s the "pregnant women and children" that must be warned about the heavy metals they may be consuming in their tuna. In addition to their low body mass and relatively rapid metabolism, children are growing and developing on a daily basis. It is these aspects of being a child that make a healthy, organic diet so essential.
Most of us understand the importance of consuming a diet that is balanced in respect to the different food groups, or, the balance between carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. We have also heard that most of us should be eating more fruits and vegetables- and most children love fruit. Unfortunately, some non-organic fruits and vegetables have been shown to consistently absorb high amounts of pesticides. These "dirty dozen" of produce include: apples, strawberries, peaches, pears, nectarines, imported grapes, spinach, potatoes, celery, lettuce, cherries, and bell peppers. Studies suggest that by replacing the conventional varieties of these 12 foods with organic varieties, an individual can drastically reduce their overall pesticide intake. Another recent study from the University of Washington tracked the pesticide by-product levels in children’s urine. The findings showed that children who consumed mostly organic produce and juices versus conventional varieties of produce and juices had only 1/6 of the pesticide by-products present in their urine. These studies are incredibly significant and highlight a good starting point for those of us that are new to organic food.
New parents, new kids, new organic diet!
justin - product development
Organic food is very likely even more important for children than it is for adults. Children eat much more food than adults do in relation to their weight. They are also affected more quickly and easily by the foods they ingest. This is why it’s the "pregnant women and children" that must be warned about the heavy metals they may be consuming in their tuna. In addition to their low body mass and relatively rapid metabolism, children are growing and developing on a daily basis. It is these aspects of being a child that make a healthy, organic diet so essential.
Most of us understand the importance of consuming a diet that is balanced in respect to the different food groups, or, the balance between carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. We have also heard that most of us should be eating more fruits and vegetables- and most children love fruit. Unfortunately, some non-organic fruits and vegetables have been shown to consistently absorb high amounts of pesticides. These "dirty dozen" of produce include: apples, strawberries, peaches, pears, nectarines, imported grapes, spinach, potatoes, celery, lettuce, cherries, and bell peppers. Studies suggest that by replacing the conventional varieties of these 12 foods with organic varieties, an individual can drastically reduce their overall pesticide intake. Another recent study from the University of Washington tracked the pesticide by-product levels in children’s urine. The findings showed that children who consumed mostly organic produce and juices versus conventional varieties of produce and juices had only 1/6 of the pesticide by-products present in their urine. These studies are incredibly significant and highlight a good starting point for those of us that are new to organic food.
New parents, new kids, new organic diet!
justin - product development
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