Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.
Issue link: http://cancerfightersthrive.epubxp.com/i/61344
NUTRITION Organic food is grown without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, biotechnology, and irradiation. on the other hand, are a bit trickier to decipher: s h 0ERCENT /RGANICv The product is completely organic. s h/RGANICv At least 95 percent of the ingredients must be organic. s h-ADE WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTSv At least 70 percent of the ingredients must be organic. (Products labeled "made with organic ingredients" cannot bear the USDA Organic seal.) Is Organic Food Better? Anna Torpe, RD, LDN, a clinical oncol- ogy dietitian at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Zion, Illinois, says that organic food is not nec- essarily "better"—just different. "As far as the nutrient content of foods, there is really no statistically significant differ- ence in organically grown versus conven- tionally grown food," she explains. She adds, however, that research in this area is ongoing and that some organic fruits, vegetables, and juices may contain more phytochemicals than their convention- ally grown counterparts. One thing is for sure: conventionally grown foods carry higher levels of toxins cfthrive.com What Are the Benefits of Organic Food? Organic foods can provide a variety of benefits. For starters, organic foods con- tain a lower pesticide load than conven- tional foods. This means that organic produce doesn't have chemical pesticides and herbicides and that organic meats and dairy products don't contain antibi- otics and growth hormones. Furthermore, organic farming can provide environmental benefits such as reduced soil erosion and less air and water pollution. It may also help prevent human antibiotic resistance. Proponents of organic farming argue that it creates a more sustainable food system and sup- ports local economies. Should You Switch to Organic? Torpe says that organic foods have cer- tain benefits. Unfortunately, organic food often comes with a hefty price tag, which means it's not an automatic choice for many people. "Organic is great, but I hate for people such as pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and hormones. THE DIRTY DOZEN Buy organic when you can. When grown conventionally, these fruits and vegetables carry the highest load of pesticides: 1. APPLES 2. CELERY 3. STRAWBERRIES 4. PEACHES 5. SPINACH 6. NECTARINES (IMPORTED) 7. GRAPES (IMPORTED) 8. SWEET BELL PEPPERS 9. POTATOES 10. BLUEBERRIES (DOMESTIC) 11. LETTUCE 12. KALE/COLLARD GREENS summer 2012 | cancer fighters thrive 13