The side effects of pesticides…reasons to go organic
Long-term exposure to pesticides has been linked to infertility, birth defects, endocrine disruption, neurological disorders and cancer, so it’s a common-sense conclusion that fewer pesticides in our food supply would result in improved health among the general population.
In fact, one of the strongest selling points for eating organic food is that it can significantly lower your exposure to pesticides and other harmful chemicals used in conventional agriculture, and this measure in and of itself may help protect your long-term health and/or improve any health conditions you may have.
A Bonus to Eating Organic: More Nutritious Foods
Keep in mind, also, that some locally grown foods may be grown according to organic standards (or close to them) without receiving the organic certification (a process that can be cost prohibitive for some small farms). Shopping for produce locally is the best way to get fresh, nutrient-rich foods, and the added bonus is you can ask the farmer directly how the food is grown (with or without the use of synthetic pesticides, for instance).
In order to be certified organic, a food must be grown without the use of most synthetic pesticides. However, certain natural pesticides, and a few synthetic ones, are allowed, even in organic farming.
Alternatively, you can try growing some of your own produce using organic methods right in your own backyard. And finally, if you know you have been exposed to pesticides, the lactic acid bacteria formed during the fermentation of kimchi may help your body break down pesticides. So including fermented foods like kimchi in your diet may also be a wise ongoing strategy to help detox the pesticides that do enter your body.
References:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/04/01/new-pesticide-guidelines.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/12/02/pesticide-contaminated-healthy-foods.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/07/06/pesticide-long-term-exposure.aspx
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean_fifteen_list.php