Those who eat conventionally grown foods consume significantly more pesticides than those who eat certified organic fruit and vegetables. So many questions arise: What are pesticides and where are they used? How dangerous are pesticides for us humans? Are organic foods really better? Are they actually less contaminated with pesticides? Is it worth digging deeper into your pockets? These questions need to be clarified and the difference between conventional food and organic food shown.
What are pesticides and why are they used?
Many different chemical-synthetic substances that have a toxic effect on unwanted animals and plants are referred to as pesticides. The term comes from the English word “pests” and is intended to kill them. Depending on whether they are used against weeds, insects or fungi, they are also referred to as herbicides, insecticides or fungicides. These chemical agents are primarily used under the pretext of achieving higher crop yields.
Where are pesticides used?
Chemical-synthetic pesticides are used in conventional agriculture. However, representatives often refer to these as plant protection products. No matter what you want to call the chemical problem, it is not surprising that pesticides can be detected in around 80% of conventionally grown fruit and vegetables. Organic farming, on the other hand, does not use pesticides. To be more precise, any chemical-synthetic preparations are strictly prohibited.
Are pesticides dangerous?
It is not surprising that pesticides are harmful or toxic, because that is exactly their job. However, some people still believe that pesticides kill insects but cannot cause them any harm. Because if these substances were actually that dangerous, they shouldn't be used, or should they? However, this assumption is far from the truth. Pesticides are chemicals that are toxic to pests, but also to nature and humans.
How do pesticides work in the body?
How toxic pesticides are to humans varies greatly depending on the active ingredient. However, more and more publications are appearing on the possible health risks that reveal the effect pesticides have on the human organism. The slow and often delayed effects of pesticides are particularly dangerous for consumers. It has long been known that pesticides are carcinogenic, worsen sperm quality, attack the genetic material, cause allergies, disrupt cell division and impair the immune system. Just thinking about it makes you feel dizzy and uncomfortable. We don't even know how the toxins interact with each other and their breakdown products. So what can we do?
Is organic fruit and vegetables the solution?
It is now clear that pesticides enter the human body not only through food, but also through the skin and respiratory tract. The chemical agents have long since seeped into the groundwater and it is hardly possible to escape them completely. However, there are ways to keep your personal exposure to pesticides low. This includes the consumption of organic products that are certified by various
organic sealsMarked are. Organic food can massively reduce the daily toxic load caused by pesticide residues, as no chemical-synthetic substances are permitted in organic farming. The comparison to conventional fruit can be proven, particularly when it comes to organic fruit. Studies have shown that conventionally grown kiwis have 3,000 times higher pesticide levels than organically grown kiwis. What if that isn't meaningful?
Conclusion
It should be clear to everyone by now that pesticides not only kill weeds and bugs, but also have a significant impact on people. Unfortunately, pesticides are now ubiquitous. But it is precisely for this reason that it is worth choosing organic products that practically never contain pesticides, and at most only unintentionally, in order to keep the direct impact of food intake as low as possible. So if you want to eat healthily, you should – if possible – opt for organically grown fruit and vegetables, even if that means digging a little deeper into your pockets. After all, this is about our health and, as we all know, we shouldn't save money on it.
