Organic Foods for Mom & Baby
Weighing the Health Benefits
All moms want to make sure their babies are getting the very best from the very start! And, of course we all want to do our part to take care of the environment and the planet, but most of us are not independently wealthy and have to balance our budget, too. Organic foods can be double or triple the price of conventionally produced foods. Are they really worth the extra cost?
A newly released 2010 study from the Environmental Working Group on pesticides in fruits and vegetables determined that even after washing and cleaning them, many foods still have high levels of pesticides. The highest levels of pesticides are found in conventionally grown celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, kale, and cherries. These foods are best to buy organically grown when possible. However there are quite a few foods with low levels of pesticides. These tend to be foods that come in nature’s own packaging (foods we peel to eat). Onions, avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, mangoes, and sweet peas were among the safest, along with asparagus and kiwi. Just by targeting our shopping to choose organic versions of the “dirty dozen” we can greatly decrease our exposure to pesticides. See www.ewg.org/foodnews for more information.
But does it really matter? Yes! A new study on pesticides showed that children with more pesticide residues in their urine are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. There have been similar studies showing that pregnant women who are exposed to more pesticides have children with higher levels of ADHD. Most of these studies are new, because organic foods have only been on the shelves for a few years. As we learn more, we’ll likely also learn more about other effects of these chemicals on developing babies.
When organic foods are not available, conventionally locally grown foods from the farmer’s markets are usually the next best option. A company shipping produce from Chile will have to use more chemicals to keep it fresh than a local farmer who picks you an apple the day of the market. Not only that, the grower is usually right in front of you! You can always ask farmers about how food is grown. Many small farms only spray plants on an “as needed” basis, and some are not labeled “organic” because of the cost involved in the certification process.
Also, don’t forget about frozen produce. Not only is it cheaper, but there are often organic options available. Many people are surprised to discover that frozen produce can actually be healthier most months of the year, but it’s true! A blueberry picked in the morning and frozen an hour later will retain more nutrients than one shipped in from Peru days earlier and shipped halfway around the world.
The evidence is mixed on meat, dairy and poultry, but suggests that organic is healthier. Some studies have shown that grass-fed animals have higher levels of healthy fats, like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Organically raised animals also eliminate the potential for risks from the potential effects of antibiotics or hormones.
If there’s one time it’s vital to buy organic, it is for infants. Babies have a tremendous rate of growth and development during the first year, and this is an important window of opportunity. Fruits and vegetables are a big part of the diet of most babies, and so pound for pound, babies end up consuming a proportionally larger burden of pesticides than most adults. There is no easy way to know how much of an impact this makes on the baby’s overall health, but many parents feel that it is worth the investment for this important time of life.
According to a Consumer Reports review, there are few benefits for buying processed organic foods, like breads, cereals, and other packaged foods. The processing removes many of the nutrients, and often many of these foods have only a few organic ingredients. Also, there are no health benefits to buying organic seafood. USDA has not yet developed standards defining that claim, so it is essentially meaningless.
Bottom line: Buy organic and locally grown foods when possible, and focus on eating organic for the foods that matter most, like the fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides. Also, concentrate on the times that it matters most, like during pregnancy and for feeding growing infants and toddlers.