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One More Reason to Go Organic!

By Annie Berthold-Bond, Care2.com Producer, Green Living Channels

One More Reason to Go Organic! Potatoes, pecans, and sugar beet crops are commonly treated with a fungicide that tests show not only renders immune system killer cells helpless, but they never recovered and became weaker over time. The new research conducted at Tennessee State University was presented this month at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society.

When natural immune system killer cells were exposed to the fungicide Triphenyltin (TPT), laboratory tests show that within one hour the cells have a reduced ability to fight tumors by 50 to 60 percent, and after 6 days that power diminished to 84 percent. It is not known if these laboratory results are applicable to animals and humans, but more tests are recommended. The researchers also want to look into whether TPT can have a cumulative effect on the body.

The Top 10 Foods to Eat Organically

Excerpted from Your Organic Kitchen, by Jesse Ziff Cool.

Some conventionally grown foods are treated with more pesticides than others. Some retain more of the pesticides. Here is a list of the top 10 foods containing the most pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research group based in Washington, D.C.

You can sidestep harm and still eat vitamin-rich foods. If you cannot find these foods organically, here are some great alternatives that contain the same valuable vitamins and minerals.

High-Pesticide Food: Strawberries
Main Nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy Alternatives: Blueberries, raspberries, oranges, grapefruit, kiwifruit, watermelon

High-Pesticide Food: Bell peppers
Main Nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy Alternatives: Green peas, broccoli, romaine, lettuce

High-Pesticide Food: Spinach
Main Nutrient: Vitamins A and C
Healthy Alternatives: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus

High-Pesticide Food: Cherries
Main Nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy Alternatives: Oranges, blueberries, raspberries, kiwifruit, blackberries, grapefruit

High-Pesticide Food: Peaches
Main Nutrient: Vitamins A and C
Healthy Alternatives: Nectarines, watermelon, tangerines, oranges, grapefruit

High-Pesticide Food: Mexican cantaloupe
Main Nutrient: Vitamins A and C
and potassium Healthy Alternatives: U.S. cantaloupe grown from May to December, watermelon

High-Pesticide Food: Celery
Main Nutrient: Carotenoids
Healthy Alternatives: Carrots, broccoli, radishes, romaine lettuce

High-Pesticide Food: Apples
Main Nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy Alternatives: Watermelon, nectarines, bananas, tangerines

High-Pesticide Food: Apricots
Main Nutrient: Vitamins A an C and potassium
Healthy Alternatives: Nectarines, watermelon, oranges, tangerines

High-Pesticide Food: Green beans
Main Nutrient: Potassium
Healthy Alternatives: Green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, asparagus

http://www.organic-center.org/about.join.html

Mission Organic 2010 is a campaign to encourage all Americans to make more organic food choices. The Organic Center is encouraging everyone to publicly make the commitment to make at least 10% of their eating choices organic through the year 2010.