Sometimes it is very difficult for us to avoid the foods that we are accustomed to eating. But now is the time to contemplate on things. Is the food we eat safe enough?  You might be amazed to know that most foods in the market are modified to cope up with the supply and demand because population has exploded to some extent. Every family has a different lifestyle. Eating the right foods with the right nutritional content to achieve better health is the best learning the person can earn in his lifetime. Healthy eating habits are just as important as making the right choices as to which food to eat. It is eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meat rather than eating processed and refined foods.

Family budgeting while ensuring the family’s health is not an easy task.  If we are to select eating as much organic and local foods as we can, it might be a little more expensive compared to eating synthetically grown produce. Because of this perception, we often buy foods that we think may be less expensive but the problem is, these foods usually present us with increased risk for various diseases.

In a previous article, I have discussed the top 10 foods to avoid. Here are 5 more foods to add to that list:

1. Conventional Apple

   Unless it's organic eating, an Apple everyday will not keep the Doctor away.  This is according to Dr. Walter Crinnion, writer of Clean, Green, and Lean: Get Rid of the Toxins That Make You Fat. Furthermore, the EWG extensive study gives us the important details:

   The problem: EWG has recently conducted an extensive study about FDA and USDA testing that measured the residues of pesticide in certain produce and ranked the most commonly eaten fruits and vegetables on a scale from the most toxic to the most consistently clean. It was found out that apple is the most toxic due to the highest content level of pesticides.

   The solution: Buy organic apples.

   Budget tip: If you can't get organic and you're dogged to eat the conventional apple, the amount of toxicity can be lessened by peeling its skin. Their toxic level can be more reduced by immersing and scrubbing them in a container of 10 percent vinegar, and then don’t forget to wash it after.

2. Farmed Salmon

   A pilot study conducted by Dr. Easton with the David Suzuki Foundation and the EWG reports gives us the scoop:

   The problem: The study found out that the fish meal or feeds used in feeding and the farmed salmon appeared to have a much higher level of contamination with respect to organo-chlorine pesticides, PCBs, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers compared to the so-called wild salmon. They pose cancer risks to the people eating them. PCBs have been used as coolants and lubricants in capacitors, transformers, as well as in other electrical tools since they are excellent insulators and they do not burn easily. In 1979, the US banned the production of PCB because they are harmful to the environment and can cause detrimental health effects. Fish absorb PCBs from grimy sediments and from their food.

   The solution: Change to wild salmon. In preparing wild salmon, spruce the skin and the detectable fat from your fish, since PCBs are stored in the plump areas. Cook your salmon in a way that reduces a considerable area of fat, such as grilling and broiling.

3. Non-organic Potatoes

   The National Organic Standard Board Chair, Jeffrey Moyer gives us the scoop:

   The problem: Root Crops such as potatoes are sprayed with chemicals to keep the spuds free from blemishes. For the duration of the growing season, the potato plants are sprayed with fungicides that wash and soak into the soil.  At harvest time, the trailing plants are obliterated with herbicides to get them out of the way. Then there is more percolation down to the taters.  After harvesting, they're sprayed again with a chemical to prevent them from sprouting.

   The solution: Organic Potatoes are considered to be good buys. Washing non-organic potatoes does not guarantee removal of the chemicals that have been absorbed by the root crops. Organic potatoes are not that expensive. It costs only $1 to $2 a pound. But think of the health benefits that you will be getting.

4. Microwave Popcorn

   The Environmental Working Group Senior Scientist, Olga Naidenko, PhD, gives us the scoop:

   The problem: According to a recent study from UCLA, the chemical in the lining of the bag called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) may be linked to infertility in humans.   Animal testing showed that the chemicals cause testicular, pancreatic, and liver cancer. Further study demonstrates that using microwave causes the chemicals to convert into vapor—and migrate into the popcorn. "The chemical stay and accumulate in your body for years," says Naidenko. Accumulation of chemicals to a higher level can cause cancer according to the test made in animals and that causes the researchers to worry. DuPont and other manufacturers have assured the public that they will be phasing out PFOA by the year 2015 under an EPA voluntary plan, but millions of popcorn bags will be sold between this year and 2015.

   The solution: Use skillet in popping natural kernels in an old-fashioned way. For flavorings, you can add dried seasonings, such as vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

5. Canned Tomatoes

   University of Missouri’s endocrinologist, Fredrick Vom Saal, PhD, who studied bisphenol-A, shares to us the following facts:

   The problem: Bisphenol-A is contained in the tin cans, especially in its resin linings, a form of artificial estrogen that is connected with physical disorders ranging from heart disease to reproductive problems ,obesity and diabetes. Unluckily, acidity (a famous feature of tomatoes) triggers the BPA to seep into the food. Studies illustrate that the Bisphenol-A in a lot of people's body are far greater than the normal amount and prohibits the production of sperm cells or may cause damage to the chromosomes of human eggs. According to Vom Saal, BPA levels of 50 mcg in every liter of canned tomatoes can affect people strongly, mainly the young.

   The solution: Opt for tomatoes that are found inside glass bottles because glass bottles do not have resin linings. Better yet, use fresh tomatoes.

Sources
exploringwomanhood.com
healthcastle.com
prevention.com
naturalhealthontheweb.com