Choosing Organic Vegetables and Fruit for Babies and During Pregnancy. For babies a purely organic diet can be very beneficial when beginning to eat solid food. Babies have weak immune systems and need to have pure and safe foods when they begin to eat. Organic vegetables have more flavour so your little one will be able to taste the real flavours in his or her food. Eating fruit and vegetables helps you to stay healthy, but it is especially important during pregnancy.
By eating organic vegetables and fruit during pregnancy you are exposing your new baby to less toxins. How Big is a Fruit or Vegetable Portion? 80g (or a small handful) of vegetables (raw, cooked, fresh or frozen but not potatoes) One apple, pear, orange, banana or other fruit of a similar size. 2 or 3 smaller fruits such as apricots or plums.
A small bunch of grapes, a handful of cherries or half a punnet of raspberries or other berries. A glass of fruit juice (although however many glasses you have it will only count once.) Chemicals Found in Non Organic food. Organic food which is certified as being organic has had no use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. None of the organic vegetables will have genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for which the risks are still unknown.
Cox's apples could be sprayed up to 16 times with a total of 36 different chemicals. This is according to a 1998 government report. It is said that there is no cause for concern for our health. Organic vegetables and fruit contain almost no residues so to act on the safe side, it may be best to choose organic for children. Some people still think that by washing their apple before eating will remove any chemicals, but sadly this is not the case. It will remove some of the chemicals but certainly not eliminate them as much has already been absorbed into the skin.
Nutrients Found in Organic Food. Much research has been done to sow that organic vegetables and fruit are far more superior in vitamins minerals and nutrients. Organic vegetables and fruit are especially higher in antioxidants, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. Chromium is a micronutrient that is low in the diets of Western people.
Its deficiency is associated with the onset of adult diabetes and also atherosclerosis (which is hardening of the arteries). Chromium was found to be higher in organic foods by an average of 78%. Selenium is an antioxidant nutrient that protects from damage by environmental chemicals. It is protective against cancers and heart disease. In research it has been found to be an average of 390% higher in organic foods. Boron, which has been shown to help prevent osteoporosis (along with calcium), averaged 70% more.
Lithium, which is used to treat certain types of depression, was 188% higher.
Shelley Green is the owner of http://www.vegetable-delivery.com, a site that specializes in vegetable delivery including organic vegetables, organic fruit, fruit and vegetable boxes, and also other recommended sites.
