Prime cookout and outdoor eating season is almost upon us. Be ready to feed almost anyone at your table with this selection of vegan mains from the Recipe Finder.

[Meatless mains and sides to toss on the grill]

Tacos With Tofu Chorizo and Potatoes, pictured above. We frequently recommend this DIY vegan chorizo because its that good.

Vitas Barbecue Tofu. Works best with extra-firm tofu; you can make it a few days in advance.

Portobello Mushrooms With Tuscan Kale and Sweet Potato. The tidy package makes it conveniently portable; we bet you could par-bake these and then finish them off on a grill.

Black Bean Tortas With Chipotle Mayo. A mix of creamy refried black beans and with chipotle-spiked vegan mayonnaise.

Vegan Chili Mac. Tote along a tub of this to spoon atop grilled portobellos or vegan hot dogs.

Walnut Tacos. Easy to assemble and make vegan by using nondairy yogurt or sour cream.

Hearts of Palm and Artichoke Cakes. They look like crabcakes, dont they?

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The best vegan mains for cookouts and parties - Washington Post

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Very fitting for #transformationtuesday . So. Today is the day. Exactly one year ago today is when I decided to go vegan. At first, it wasn't really because of the animals. I was just doing what my good friend and trainer was telling me to do. No, not because Im not smart or letting someone have "control" over my life, (eyeroll), but because as a good friend.....I TRUSTED HIM. Not until I watched the documentary Earthlings. That is what changed my entire view on factory farming and how we humans are just awful. The way these animals are abused and treated I just couldn't help support that anymore. Within the first month, I noticed right away how amazing I felt. I did NOT go into this looking for an aesthetic change (although, that is a bonus). The before pic on the left is either the day or day after I started. Quite honestly, I was happy in my skin then. Sure, I was fluffier, but I was happy. Self love and changing your mindset makes a HUGE difference. I also didn't give a damn about a scale number. I am 5'7. I believe I was roughly around 190-195. Yeah I carried it well. Today, I am between 150-155. I think that's my "sweet/happy" spot. Hell, I actually wanted to STOP dropping weight at 170. The best part is I wasn't even trying to lose weight. I have been eating roughly 500-600 grams of carbs a day.....2600-3200 calories a day. Yes for the entire year. I eat good food and NEVER deprive myself. But now.....I do it being cruelty free. I will be first to admit, I haven't been perfect. Sushi dates I ate shrimp and seafood. But with so many vegan options, that got easier to give up. I'm not trying to change anyone's minds on how they eat or what they do. You do you. I do me. But here is what I learned after going vegan: 1) I did NOT suffer from protein or nutrient deficiency 2) I'm still strong af 3) I'm happier and body still changing 4) i can still nourish my body and feel great being cruelty free 5) every damn day is a "cheat day". Thank you all for being apart of my journey. I'm far from dine. Let's see where 2 years will bring me, yeah? Live life, love yourself, and kick ass everyone! Xoxo!

A post shared by Jee Nee (@koreancheezhead) on May 16, 2017 at 3:26am PDT

Many people have found great health benefits, including weight loss, from going vegetarian or vegan, and these before-and-after photos of Jee Nee just might inspire you to try it out. After going vegan one year ago, she's lost about 40 pounds, and even though she was "was happy in my skin then" and "didn't give a damn about a scale number," she says, "Hell, I actually wanted to STOP dropping weight at 170. The best part is I wasn't even trying to lose weight."

Ditching meat, dairy, eggs, and honey can open up a whole new world of healthy foods, and many vegans find that eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grains makes you feel more satisfied and energetic, and the weight loss is just an added bonus.

There's no need to jump into a vegan diet 100 percent if you're not ready. Try eating vegan once a day, or maybe even once a week. Here are some recipes and cooking tips for inspiration:

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Vegan Before-and-After Weight Loss | Instagram - POPSUGAR

BBC News

Australians sizzle over vegan sausage offer BBC News One of the great Australian traditions, the community event known as the sausage sizzle, became a bone of contention this weekend after customers of a well-known DIY chain store were offered only vegan sausages. The charity event, held at a Melbourne ... Bunnings visitors fume after being offered vegan sausagesDaily Mail Sausage sizzle fizzle: Outrage after Bunnings serves vegan snagsYahoo7 News Outrage over vegan sausages served at Melbourne BunningsHerald Sun The West Australian -3AW all 7 news articles »

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Australians sizzle over vegan sausage offer - BBC News

If you want to nail your next manicure, consider a growing trend in the salon world non-toxic nail polish.

With health-conscious beauty regimens on the rise, companies are following the leads of consumers and physicians to make cleaner, less toxic products that perform just as well as their toxin-heavy counterparts. With a plethora of 3-free, 5-free (free of the top three and five chemicals found in lacquers) and even vegan polishes hitting shelves, it can be overwhelming to choose something that looks good and it still good for you.

According to a 2014 survey conducted by industry publication Nails Magazine, the average price of a manicure in the US is $19.54. With many women opting to maintain their nail health with weekly or bimonthly manicures, its increasingly important that the products theyre using (and leaving on their nails for weeks at a time) dont come at a dangerous cost.

Dr. Samer Jaber, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine cautions that there are three toxic ingredients that should be avoided if possible in nail polish.

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and toluene and dibutyl phthalate have been linked to developmental defects, says Jaber.

Enter the toxin-free salons that specialize in providing treatments that use locally-made, natural alternatives to traditional practices. The NYC-based salon tenoverten prides itself on their 8-free polishes that are also cruelty-free and vegan. In Los Angeles upscale Brentwood neighborhood, a basic manicure at the non-toxic salon Cte which goes so far as to create gluten-free polish, runs $25 just one Abraham Lincoln more than the national average of a non-specialty service.

Jaber says, The absorption of chemicals in nail polish is unclear, but its always better to be safe than sorry.

If youve mastered painting your own nails (kudos to you), stock up on some of the safer, cleaner polishes that have recently hit shelves. Beauty brand Orly responded to the increase of gel treatments with the development their Breathable line of color that is 13-free and comes infused with Argan oil, Pro Vitamin B5 and Vitamin C. At $8.99 a bottle, you can give yourself a worry-free manicure that doesnt require a base or topcoat.

Jewelry designer Ariel Gordon launched a line of 7-free polishes last year that cost $16 a bottle. Being a mom, I care more and more about the chemicals I expose myself and my kids to, says Gordon. For someone like her, showcasing her rings and bracelets are part of her job, so having nice nails to match is a must.

On that note, Jaber tells Moneyish, I would be most careful about using nail polish with the three most common chemicals with young children as they often bite their nails and put their fingers in their mouths.

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Nail salons are going vegan - New York Post

Becky, Graham and Casey (Picture: Mercury Press)

Going vegan is no easy feat.

So one 11-year-oldfrom Norfolk decided to get an early start but not without informing her parents first, of course.

Becky Robinson from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, discovered a handwritten letter written by her daughter, Casey, a couple of weeks ago informing her mum that she was going vegan.

She also asked Becky to cookthe meatiest meal for her before she took the plunge:

Dear mum, today is my last day of being a carnivore. I have decided to become a vegan, it read.

Please respect my decision as I think its right for me.

Please can we have the meatiest tea tonight as my last meat meal lol. From Casey.

And Casey certainly wasnt messing around, beginningher diet by donating an extra 14 of her pocket money towards chia and flax seeds and giving up roast beef the next day.

Though one thing she hadnt prepared for was making a fond farewell to butter.

So after a fair shot at veganism, she soon realised she might just be a vegetarian after all:

My husband Graham said we need to talk her out of it, but I just said leave her and it wont last for five minutes, said Becky.

But it was Monday morning when I found the note and by Thursday, she came into my room before school and said I think Im going to be vegetarian because I cant have butter on my toast.

Shes never really mentioned it before its typical of Casey.

Shes bright and when she gets a new idea, shell research it and look into it properly.

When my family asked why she wanted to be a vegan, she knew everything about it.

Her mum said that Casey decided to become vegan because (like most of her decisions) shed watched a YouTube video.

Casey is funny and very mature with the things she comes out with, Becky added.

Shes just so headstrong and interested in learning new things really.

Adding energy drinks to your booze makes you feel more drunk

Forget flowers, all we want is a bouquet of these rose-shaped doughnuts

The world 'Best Gin' award winner taught himself everything he knows

Good on Casey for knowing what she wants.

But as with any big diet change especially if you (or your kid) are young make sure you do it rightto stay strong and healthy.

Parents should maintain a food diary for their child for at least a week to monitor and ensure the childs carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals nutritional requirements are met daily, she says.

They should also investigate the vegan food options are at school sometimes to avoid animal product, theres atendency to look for foods rich in sugar and highly-refined grains that arent very nutritious.

Parents could also help the child perhaps with the help of a professional nutritionist to develop a food plan that includes wholesome foods and correct portions that meet their nutritional needs.

This can be a good way to ensure good diet habits are set from the beginning.

MORE: What your vegan food choices say about you

MORE: Vegan diets could be damaging childrens health, nutritionists warn

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MORE: Can we please stop using peoples sex lives as a way to bash vegans or meat-eaters?

MORE: 7 of the best vegan festivals and events this summer

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Vegan 11-year-old asks for 'meatiest meal' before swapping to diet - Metro

What started as one grab-and-go vegan sushi shop on 14th Street has now grown into its fourth location, the first full-service Beyond Sushi in New York City with alcohol on the way, too. It might sound like an improbable success story: In a town full of top-notch, fish-filled sushi, a vegan sushi joint has somehow pushed its way into the already crowded space.

It may seem like a ridiculous concept to eat sushi without fish, but the restaurant, from co-owners Guy and Tali Vaknin, has been expanding like mad. The latest location on 37th Street is by far the largest space yet with 72 seats, Tali called it seven times bigger than the original location.

The menu, in full below, is familiar, packed with the shops vegetable- and fruit-based rolls, which are exactly like regular sushi rolls but filled with items such as braised fennel, curried cauliflower, and mango. There are also noodle bowls, and rice paper wraps, plus the addition of two new desserts.

But the major difference here is the introduction of alcohol. While it is still waiting for the license to come through, likely in June, once it does there will be sake, beer, wine, and low-ABV cocktails. Most of the drinks are sake-based and savory, such as the peppercorn martini (extra dry sake, dry vermouth, peppercorn juice, black caraway seeds, pickled green peppercorn) and fennel (dry sake, cucumber juice, candied fennel, fennel seed, dash of lime). The drink menu is also included below.

Its been a five year journey for the Vaknins since they opened the first location in Union Square, which blossomed into two more kiosks (Chelsea Market and Midtown West) before this full-service spot. Come June, another counter will open at the food hall at 70 Pine Street with seats for 40 people.

Beyond Sushi is now open at 134 West 37th Street from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

134 W. 37th St. , New York, New York

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Beyond Sushi Tries to Make Vegan Sushi More Than Fast Food at Fourth Location - Eater NY

There are many different ways to have your period. For some people it comes every month like clockwork, while other people on certain types of birth control don't get it at all. Some people have a super heavy flow, while others barely spot. While there are some signs your period sends that can tell you something is off, however your period comes is natural. But Broadly recently pointed out that there are a cohort of vegan bloggers who think having a period is a sign of toxicity in your body.

Freelee the Banana Girl, a well-known vegan blogger, posted on her YouTube channel years ago that she stopped getting her period for nine months after following a raw, vegan diet. When it returned, Freelee said it was much lighter than before. Freelee interpreted this to mean that having a period is a sign of excess toxicity that needs to leave your body.

"I still believe that, largely, menstruation is toxicity leaving the body," she said in the video. "So a lot of people are having these heavy, heavy periods and painful periods because they have a toxic body or have a toxic diet."

Freelee said heavy periods are not natural, and that it's healthier to have a light flow. She continued to say people with heavy, painful periods should adopt a diet like hers (she's been known to eat up to 51 bananas per day). She's not the only one, as Broadly points out. Other bloggers also subscribe to a similar idea.

This, however, is not accurate. For those who have started menstruating, the absence of a period is called amenorrhea. According to the Mayo Clinic , natural amenorrhea occurs for reasons like pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause, while taking certain medicines and using certain contraceptives can also cause it. Hormonal imbalances and problems with your reproductive organs can lead to amenorrhea, but being underweight, exercising too much or being under a lot of stress can also prompt your periods to stop. While amenorrhea is totally healthy and normal in situations like pregnancy or while you're using a contraceptive, Dr. Jackie Maybin, a clinical lecturer in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Edinburgh, told Broadly she doesn't advise changing your diet to alter your period.

"It's difficult to recommend a strict vegan diet without investigating hormone levels and endometrial health in these women," she said. "It's likely that the complete absence of periodsamenorrheaindicates that ovulation is not occurring and could have a significant negative impact on reproductive health."

But it's also important to note that Freelee's statements also perpetuate the idea that menstruation is somehow impure or unclean. We see this idea in action in many ways some casual and others very serious. We see it when people call periods "gross" or people who menstruate go to great lengths to hide their pads or tampons. We also see it when, in rural areas of Nepal, people who menstruate are shunned during their period because of the idea that it makes them unclean. Periods are, in fact, a natural occurrence that has nothing to do with your levels of so-called toxicity, but instead is an integral part of your menstrual cycle.

Read Broadly's full story here .

Related: A Nepali Teen on Her Period Died After Being Banished to a Hut

Read more from the original source:

These Vegan Bloggers Say Periods Are Toxic - TeenVogue.com

(Imagens Portal SESCSP, Flickr)

Recent worldwide hits come frompop, rock, hip-hop, electronic anything, it seems, but classical. What stereotypes does classical music hold? Is it beautiful, euphonious, relaxing? Or is it boring, soporific, a genre reserved for older folks or very musically intellectual people? In fact, classical music can be quite unorthodox, funny, eye-opening. And yes, in some cases, these pieces can be composed by the very same people who work with the more conventional, familiar form of classical music.

Lets take a look at some of classical musics weirdest offerings.

Mauricio Kagel, a well-known German Argentine composer, composed a rather hilarious piece back in 1992. His style involves introducing theatrical elements in the piece,ranging from detailed descriptions of what emotions musicians should convey on their faces to a step-by-step account of how someone in the orchestra should move. In Concert for Timpani and Orchestra, the timpani player uses a variety of unusual instruments, such as a bullhorn, and at one point is instructed to slap the timpani with bare hands. The funniest part, however, is the ending:

(bellybutton-diary.com)

As Kagel notes, the timpani player stretches to full height before diving headfirst into the timpani.

In fact, Kagels instructions state that one timpani must be covered in paper instead of the usual cowhide and must be reserved for the final dive. The final note (the sound of the human body crashing into the timpani) is as loud as possible (fortissimo fortissimo). The musician must therefore exert this action with all of theirenergy.

Perfect.

Finale was composed for a concert celebrating Kagels 50 years of life and was written for an indoor ensemble. A 20 minute piece, Finale starts off in truly classical form, but the theatrics creep in five minutes before the piece ends. Composer Kagels notes on the music sheet for Finale state very clearly:

The conductor suddenly stiffens, as though he/she is experiencing convulsions. The right arm goes up, the shoulder rises. The left hand loosens the necktie and lightly massages the chest. The conductor grabs the music stand, then falls, the head falling towards the floor behind the conductor. As a result, the music stand should fall as well.

The violin player steps in as a substitute conductor for the rest of the piece while the conductor lies prone on the floor.

John Cage, another avant-garde composer, wrote 433, a famous piece that is often accompanied by classical instruments, such as a piano or a string orchestra.

There is no time limit, minimum or maximum, to this piece. The title only happened to be 433 because the first performance of the song lasted four minutes and 33 seconds. There are three movements in this song, but no notes or sound. The whole song is completelysilent.

The thought behind this piece is not so much for it to be empty ordevoid of notes, but to fosteran appreciation of sound, such as the noiseof people moving around in their seats or the sound of nature outside the concert hall. During 433, these noises are not just ambient but are actually an integral part of the piece.

It does look odd, however. The performer (or performers) sits down, stays silent, then exits the stage when the piece is over.

Perhaps Cage sought tochallenge our perception of music, modern or classical. We often think of music as a piece the composer deliberately planned out, in note form, or in a format that requires intentionally created sound. However, 433 integrates inadvertently created noise and merges them as modern music.

Contact Maimi Higuchi at maimih at stanford.edu.

Originally posted here:

Who said classical music was boring? - The Stanford Daily

ACTON - Acton Public Library will hold its annual Book, Bake & Plant Sale on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Please consider donating your divided perennials, rooted house plants or extra seedlings to help the sale.

The library also is taking book donations for the sale. For the library's book donation policy, please visit online at http://www.acton.lib.me.us.

The sale will be held at 35 H Road in Acton.

A questions, please call 636-2781.

GOODALL LIBRARY

Goodall Library is located at 952 Main Street and can be reached at 324-4714. Visit the library online at http://www.lbgoodall.org.

Coloring Calm, Goodall Librarys coloring workshop,will continue on Mondays, May 22 and June 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the library'sCommunity Room. Coloring sheets and supplies will be provided (or you canbring your own). Color in a relaxing group setting with music and refreshmentsprovided. Adult coloring, a focused and meditative activity, has been shown tohave many positive benefits, mental and physical.

Marianne OConnor, the author of"Haunted Hikes of New Hampshire,"will give a presentation at Goodall Library on Tuesday, May 23, at 6 p.m.OConnor shares more than trail mix withher readers as she recounts the ghost stories, legends and lore associated with some of New Hampshire'spremier hiking trails. Her one-hour presentation will be full of spooky surprises her Powerpoint program will highlight unusual ghost tales and will cover geological andhistorical events. Haunted locations are scattered throughout the state next door and featurelegends such as Devils Den in New Durham, Chief Chocorua in Tamworth, Sasquatch ofOssipee, the Bomber Plane in Woodstock, and a murder mystery involving Bette Davis inFranconia. O'Connoris a professional educator and has presented her program to various libraries,schools and local organizations throughout New England. Her book has been featured on "NH Chronicle," "Windows to the Wild," NH NPR and other local programs.

Plunk will meet funk when musicianPeter Mezoian will perform on the banjo during a special showat Goodall Library on Tuesday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. The roots of the banjo are in American popular and jazz musicfrom the early 1900s, but, unlike many banjoists, Mezoian decided thatthose syncopated, infectious rhythms and melodies could transfer to other genresand generations of musicwhere Cole Porter crosses Paul Simon and Broadwayintersects with the Beatles, and where the Roaring '20s catch up with thepsychedelic '60s.This funny and engaging performer will keep you wondering what he will playnext. Mezoian has spent years taking the banjo across the world as a feature act ontheater and nightclub stages in America, England, and Japan, at music festivals and on more than 50 different cruise ships. He'sjust your typical native Maine, Steve Martin-influenced, donut-eating,espresso-drinking, half-Armenian, half-Greek, four-string banjoist.

Goodall Library will continue itsMeditation Seriesin June.Whether youre a beginner or looking to deepen your practice, head to the library for this series, led by Cindy Simon, M.A., NCC, RMT.Relieve anxiety, anger and depression by learning to live in the present moment.Enjoy deep stillness and quiet and rid your mind of negative chatter. Live withmore acceptance, letting go, happiness, and gratitude.Class will be held on Monday, June 19, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Romp & Rhyme: Baby & Toddler Timeis held at Goodall Library on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. This program, for children ages 3 and younger, lasts 30 minutes and is filled with music, movement, fun, rhymes and books.

Creative Chaos Story Time For Pre-schoolersis offered at Goodall Library for children ages 3 through 6 on Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. This 45-minute program involves stories, crafts, fun and an occasional surprise.

Goodall Library offersfree passesto the Portland Museum of Art, Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Stop in and start enjoying the benefits of becoming a member of the library.

SPRINGVALE PUBLIC

Springvale Public Library is located at 443 Main Street. For more information, call 324-4624, send an email to spl@springvalelibrary.org, or visit online at http://www.springvalelibrary.org.

Story timesare held at Springvale Public Library for children ages 3 through 6 every Monday at 10 a.m. Baby Rhyme Time, for children under the age of 3, is held at the library on Thursdays at 10 a.m.

PARSONS MEMORIAL

Parsons Memorial Library is located at 27 Saco Road in Alfred. It can be reached at 324-2001 or alflib@roadrunner.com. Hours are from 3 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

E-Booksare available at the Parsons Memorial Library.The library has three Kindle e-readers with a total of 22 titles on each. Contact the library for the full list.

Parsons Memorial Library hosts aLego Clubfor children ages 4 through 12 on Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. The Legos are supplied. Donations of additional Legos would be appreciated.

The Friends of Parsons Memorial Library are having anongoing book salein the Reading Room. Hardcovers cost $2; paperbacks, $1. You can fill a PML tote bag with books for $12. All proceeds support the librarys programs.

Preschool Story Timesare held at the library with Miss Karen on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

TheGames Clubmeets at Parsons Memorial Library on Wednesdays at 1 p.m.

Parsons Memorial Library tote bagsare now available for $8 apiece. Proceeds go toward expanding library collections.

Discount passesto the Portland Childrens Museum are available at the library year round.

ACTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Acton Public Library is located at 35 H Road in Acton and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and third Saturdays of the month.

Acton Public Library is now offering aStory & Activity Hourfrom 10 to 11 a.m. on Fridays with two volunteers leading the fun. Parents and caregivers and their children, ages preschool and younger, are welcome to attend and listen to a story, participate in finger-play and movement activities and make light crafts. The library will also have "community celebrities" lined-up to attend once a month and share their talents.

Here is the original post:

Acton Public Library's annual sale return June 10 - Foster's Daily Democrat

By: Dr. Joel Fuhrman - Updated: 10 hours ago

VALLEY There is not a definite yes or no answer to this question. There may be important time periods at which people are more vulnerable to the potential harm of pesticide residues on our food: just prior to conception, during pregnancy, and during early childhood. There is evidence that organophosphate pesticide exposure during these time periods is associated with deficits in cognitive and behavioral development in children.

There are some clear environmental benefits to buying organic produce. However, it is unclear whether there are health risks to consumers from ingesting pesticides from conventional produce. Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases their Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists. Using pesticide residue data from the USDA, the EWG ranks the highest and lowest pesticide fruits and vegetables.

The 2017 Dirty Dozen list contains strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, celery, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and potatoes. The 2017 Clean Fifteen list contains sweet corn, avocados, pineapples, cabbage, onions, sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, honeydew, kiwi, cantaloupe, cauliflower, and grapefruit. EWG recommends buying the organic versions of the fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list to minimize exposure to synthetic pesticides.

Organic agriculture utilizes crop rotation, compost and manure as fertilizers, soil and water conservation practices, natural methods for managing pests, and no synthetic pesticides. Some of the goals of organic agriculture, according to the USDAs organic program, are to promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.

Pesticide exposure: The Environmental Protection Agency sets limits for safe consumption of pesticides; they estimate an exposure level called the chronic reference dose, the amount of a chemical a person could be exposed to daily throughout life without any harmful effects. A 2011 study estimated typical amounts of exposure to synthetic pesticides based on the USDAs pesticide residue data for fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list. They found that most pesticides were present at amounts one thousand times smaller than the chronic reference dose. Even the highest pesticide residue detected was only 2 percent of the chronic reference dose. This puts the Dirty Dozen list in perspective: it means that even the highest pesticide conventional produce is very low in pesticides.

Is that small amount of synthetic pesticide any risk to consumers? Some scientists think that pesticide residues do not pose health risks, because humans and other animals are exposed to small amounts of naturally occurring toxins in every plant food we eat. The body regularly breaks down self-produced metabolic wastes and naturally occurring carcinogens in foods, as well as pesticides, and excretes these harmful substances.

Greater concentrations of urinary breakdown products of synthetic pesticides have been found in frequent consumers of conventional produce compared to frequent consumers of organic produce, and several short-term studies have shown that switching conventional foods for organic foods reduces urinary pesticide metabolites. However, evidence is lacking whether the consumer gains any significant health benefit by eating organic instead of conventional produce.

What about people who work with pesticides in agriculture? Studies suggest a link between pesticide exposure and brain cancer, Parkinsons disease, multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the stomach and prostate. A study comparing several markers of DNA damage in blood samples of conventional and organic farmers found evidence of greater DNA damage in conventional farmers. This suggests supporting organic agriculture can help to reduce the harmful effects of synthetic pesticide exposure for those who work in agriculture and are exposed to very high doses.

There are environmental advantages. Organic agriculture avoids conventional fertilizers, aiming to prevent harmful nitrogen runoff into waterways. Avoiding synthetic pesticides prevents pesticide contamination of groundwater. Although organic pest management methods may not work as well as conventional in some cases, there is a great deal of evidence that organic crops bring better soil quality, less soil erosion, more plant diversity, and more diversity in insects, soil organisms, and birds.

Regarding nutritional differences, there appears to be a small increase in antioxidant content in organic fruits and vegetables compared to their conventional counterparts.

There is growing evidence that exposure to a mixture of synthetic pesticides is harmful to the bees we depend on as pollinators for many crops. A shift toward organic agriculture could help to alleviate some of the stress on bee populations.

Note that the Dirty Dozen are not our major dietary source of exposure to harmful chemicals. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorine pesticides and PCBs occurs primarily via fatty animal foods like fish, dairy products, and meat. Also, glyphosate, an herbicide linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers, is present primarily in processed foods.

By centering your diet on unrefined plant foods, you will automatically reduce your exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. The large volume of studies performed on typical, pesticide-treated produce has demonstrated that consumption of produce, whether organic or not, protects against chronic diseases. For your health, consuming a diet of vegetables, beans, fruit, nuts, and seeds is the most important action you can take. If you are able to buy organic vegetables and fruits, that is preferable, especially for our children, the environment and for farmers.

Dr. Fuhrman is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and a board certified family physician specializing in lifestyle and nutritional medicine. The Eat To Live Cookbook offers over 200 unique disease-fighting delicious recipes and his newest book, The End of Heart Disease, offers a detailed plan to prevent and reverse heart disease using a nutrient-dense, plant-rich eating style. Visit his informative website at DrFuhrman.com. Submit your questions and comments about this column directly to [emailprotected]

Original post:

Fuhrman: Should we only buy organic produce? - Valley Courier