Most people have heard that pesticides are bad for us and the environment. But did you know that pesticides have been linked to a number of different cancers?
There are at least 70 pesticides that are widely used and are classified as probably or possible human carcinogens.
Studies have shown that farm workers are at an increased risk of certain cancers due to their increased exposure to pesticides. Prolonged pesticide exposure can lead to cancers of the lungs, prostate, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Pesticides are problematic for a number of reasons:
1) They don’t break down easily, and accumulate in the global environment as they are dispersed worldwide through air and water
2) Remain in our tissues for life as our bodies have not evolved in ways of breaking down these toxic chemicals and eliminating them
3) They are harmful to wildlife and humans interfering with survival and quality of life
4) They are highly toxic, causing things such as genetic mutations, cancer, hormonal imbalances, immune suppression and infertility
Dealing with toxic pesticides is an added burden to a body that is already dealing with chemotherapy and trying to heal from cancer.
Needless to say, we all need to do our best to avoid pesticides and one of the best ways to do this is to buy organic!
Now I know this is not always possible for everyone and so I want to remind folks that every year the Environmental Working Group releases a list of produce that is known to contain the most chemicals.
The list is compiled by analyzing over 28,000 food samples, and is based on the level as well as the number of pesticides… it is also called the Dirty Dozen.
Some of the produce on 2021’s Dirty Dozen list includes:
➡ Strawberries
➡ Spinach
➡ Kale
➡ Apples
➡ Tomatoes
But the Environmental Working Group doesn’t just produce a list of foods that contain the most pesticide residues. It also produces another list ranking 15 fruits and vegetables that are contaminated with the fewest concentrations of pesticides. This one’s known as the Clean Fifteen.
Some of the produce on 2021’s Clean Fifteen list include:
➡ Avocados
➡ Broccoli
➡ Cauliflower
➡ Mushrooms
➡ Onions
You can go for ewg.org for the full lists!
Are you aware of these lists and have you ever checked them?
I’ve taken all my research on diet, environment, lifestyle and mind-body and put it into a very comprehensive program which will help you create your own cancer recovery plan. If you want to take your recovery from cancer to the next level, click on the image below.
Also, if you want to join a free community of people with cancer looking for holistic and integrative strategies to encourage cancer recovery CLICK THIS LINK to join the Holistic Strategies for Cancer Recovery Facebook group to help support your journey and connect you with likeminded people.
