Matthew Burrell N.D.
Naturopath and Neuromuscular Therapist
Do you know what the difference is between organic and non-organic produce?
Organic produce is grown seasonally without chemical intervention. ‘Conventional’ or non-organic produce is grown in a manner that allows for consistency of supply and increased volume by incorporating the use of potentially harmful herbicides and pesticides.
Reducing exposure to these herbicides and pesticides will reduce potential damage to your gut. Given how influential the digestive system is to your overall health, it is important to always keep it functioning optimally. Improving your digestive health will ensure that you will allow the good stuff into your body and keep the bad stuff out. Which fundamentally means that every cell of your body is potentially more nourished and less irritated.
Image credit: Erik Holt Photography
To maintain digestive health, one important factor is to reduce dietary pressure on your digestive system. Every piece of food that you eat is a foreign invader to your body. Ensuring that you choose friendly fire rather than unfriendly fire, is a simple and important choice.
THIS IS WHERE ORGANIC PRODUCE FITS IN…
Eating a wholefood diet increases the likelihood of getting all nutrients you need for optimal health and function. However, many people are unaware of the amount of chemicals they are consuming due to modern agricultural practices. Over 70% of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables have one or more pesticide residues present when consumed even after being washed and peeled. (1)
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that at even low doses of these pesticides can accumulate and in turn affect the brain, nervous system and the reproductive systems of both men and women.
Given that organic food is devoid of agricultural chemicals, this means that your digestive system has less complexity to deal with. Which in turn, will have downstream effects that will benefit your overall health.
Thankfully, The Environmental Working Group (EWG) have devised a categorisation of food the ‘Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen’.
Since 1993 the EWG have been highlighting the downfalls in modern agricultural practices and have worked on your behalf to ensure changes in legislation be made to reduce your exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides.(2) The EWG have taken conventionally farmed fruit and vegetables and tested them for pesticide residue. The ‘Dirty Dozen’ lists the twelve fruits and vegetables that were found to contain the highest pesticide residue and the ‘Clean Fifteen’ shows the produce that contained the least residue.
Here is the latest version of the ‘dirty dozen’ and ‘clean fifteen’:
‘DIRTY DOZEN’
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale, collard, and mustard greens
Peaches
Pears
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Capsicum
Cherries
Blueberries
Green beans
‘CLEAN FIFTEEN’
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapple
Onions
Papaya
Sweet peas (frozen)
Asparagus
Honeydew melon
Kiwi
Cabbage
Mushrooms
Mangoes
Sweet potatoes
Watermelon
Carrots
The use of toxic and harmful herbicides and pesticides has an accumulative and detrimental effect on your overall health. Choosing organically grown seasonal fruit and vegetables will reduce your exposure and toxic load. If you are unable to do this, it is advised to simply focus on organic examples from the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list.
If you feel that you have been historically exposed to pesticides and herbicides and wish to reduce their accumulative effect, we have a strategy that you may be interested in.
The Claridge REFRESH GIT Detoxification Program is a common-sense approach that is designed to provide you with the foundations needed to support your body when it has been impacted by toxicity. You will be supported with plenty of delicious and nutrient dense whole foods, while repairing your gastrointestinal barrier. These improvements will help enhance your health well into the future. making changes to reduce your environmental exposure that you can take with you well into the future.
Also a friendly reminder that for those who would like to invest in the 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗛 𝗚𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘅 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 prior to the 30th of April, will receive a 12.5% discount off the Program cost.
For any further questions or to make an appointment please call (03) 5221 8220.
Wishing you a great week ahead.
Matt
References:
Environmental Working Group, EWG’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists are here, March 2023 https://www.ewg.org/
