Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health problems, including cancer, diabetes, birth defects, and even neurological disorders such Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Consider that when pesticides are being sprayed on crops, the sprayer is always wearing a mask or sitting in a plane, yet it's supposedly safe to eat. To avoid consuming excessive amounts of harmful toxins, you should buy organic produce as much as possible. Certain fruits and vegetables should be avoided even more because they require more pesticides than others. These are often referred to as the "dirty" fruits and veggies: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, peppers, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, strawberries, baby marrow, lettuce, and blueberries. Most of these crops require more than 40 different pesticides before reaching the shops. And unfortunately washing them does not get rid of most of the pesticide residue. On the bright side, there are other crops that do not require much pesticides, also known as the "clean" fruits and vegetables: onions, sweet corn, pineapple, avocados, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, mango, papino, brinjals, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, and mushrooms. While the availability of organic produce in South Africa is still sparse, the demand is growing, so it is getting better.
Watch the following short video which shows a Harvard University professor describing why eating organic foods is even more important for children:
For more information:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/261092.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257045.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23290489#
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#slide-5
