More food fear is NOT what you need, am I right? Especially about a food as innocent and delicious as BLUEBERRIES!
If you’ve been diagnosed with hormone-positive breast cancer, you’re likely worried about phytoestrogens, soy, dairy, red meat, sugar and alcohol.
But you probably feel pretty “safe” eating produce, especially the uber-healthy blueberry.
Produce of all types – not just blueberries – is loaded with phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber, so you know it’s always a great option.
Unless, that is, you happened to catch a recent article announcing that blueberries had joined the “Dirty Dozen” shopping list as one of the “. . .12 non-organic (conventionally grown) fruits and vegetables with the highest amounts of pesticides”.
But before you ban blueberries from your morning smoothie, listen up.
Let’s Dig Deeper!
Just like the February chocolate blog I wrote, Chocolate. . .Is it Safe?, I encourage you to look beyond the headline.
The “Dirty Dozen” list is put out by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an environmental activist organization founded in 1993.
I have no problem with environmental activism. In fact, I would love to see more, especially in regard to pollutants and other potentially cancer-causing substances in the environment.
That said, I do have a problem with alarmist headlines and language, which is exactly what EWG uses to “scare” consumers (aka YOU!) into changing dietary habits/practices.
It’s also worth mentioning that EWG’s methodology behind creating the “Dirty Dozen” lists has been called into question and criticized for lacking scientific credibility.
What to Do?
Keep in mind that the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program is a national pesticide residue monitoring program that produces the most comprehensive pesticide residue database in the United States.
The Monitoring Programs Division administers PDP activities, including the sampling, testing, and reporting of pesticide residues on agricultural commodities in the U.S. food supply, with an emphasis on those commodities highly consumed by infants and children.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program found that 99.8% of food samples had residues well below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety levels with over 25% having no detectible residue at all.
What About the Produce on YOUR Plate?
Curious about your own intake of fruits and veggies?
Use this tool to calculate the amount of pesticide residue in the fruits and vegetables you eat regularly. Hint. . .it’s especially eye-opening to see the results for blueberries.
According to the calculator, a woman could safely consume thousands of servings of blueberries per day!
I encourage you load your plate with all varieties of fruits and veggies. . .the more, the better. . .to support your breast and overall health.
Oh yes, and remember; always read BEYOND the alarmist food headlines (or subscribe to my blog to stay informed!).
Blueberry smoothie, anyone?
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your dietitian or doctor for guidance specific to your needs.