What To Buy Organic to Protect Against Antibiotic Resistance
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic resistance is one of the top five health threats facing our nation. A study published by the American Society of Microbiology has linked glyphosate (Roundup) and two other widely used pesticides to antibiotic resistance. One of the most beneficial ways to protect yourself from antibiotic resistance is to buy organic. Organic fruits and vegetables are by definition grown without the use of pesticides. If organic isn't completely affordable, choose from the list above to avoid the foods with the most pesticide residue. There are some non-organic fruits and vegetables that have a lower pesticide count and those include:
- Sweet Potato
- Banana
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Eggplant
- Pineapple
- Watermelon
- Avocado
- Cantaloupe
- Cauliflower
- Grapefruit
- Mushrooms
- Papaya
- Sweet Peas
- Onions
Other alternatives for low-pesticide produce are Farmers' Markets. They can also be a less expensive choice for organic food. Try not to go in blindly. Make sure you talk to the farmers at the market. Find out exactly where their food comes from by asking where the farm is located and how far it is from the market. If a farmer is selling food as organic, ask if he or she is certified. I also recommend buying local and in season for the least amount of pesticide use. Learn more about the local farms attending the market by going to your local Farmers' Market website. Here is a helpful link to finding organic farmers in the US sponsored by Local Harvests.
It's really a shame that we live in an age that we have to constantly worry about our food safety, but knowledge is power. I hope these charts and lists help you make the best choices you can afford for your family. For more free health tips and delicious plant-based recipes, please sign up here. Wishing you a peaceful and compassionate week.
I’m an organic farmer with a mixed farm. Given that sustainable farming requires the farmer to maintain the nutrient balance of the soil, nutrients removed through harvest need replacing. Without chemical fertilisers etc. this is done through nutrient-building leys and application of farmyard manure … which is obviously an animal output (collected from winter-housed livestock). Does the vegan community consider FYM-fertilsed crops to be vegan? Thanks for your help.
Hi – Thanks for stopping by and reaching out. Here is a quote from the Vegan Society
Louise Davies, the head of campaigns, policy and research at the Vegan Society, naturally supports the vegan organic farming movement, and says: “In an ideal world, we would like to see our crops grown with no animal inputs.”
The society would also like to see a transition from animal farming to planting protein agriculture instead. “If and when this happens, access to animal manures will clearly decline so it is important that we start supporting alternatives now,” says Davies.