The Skinny On Organic Food

This is part two in our series on the impact of organic food on children and health. The full article (listed at the end of this post) is from The Organic Center and is filled with impressive scientific data and studies showing a wide range of benefits of consuming organic food. This installment looks at how organic food can be a key element in helping children develop healthy weight and maintain that for a lifetime. Numerous studies show that the presence of a variety of pesticides in the mother's blood stream during pregnancy and the ingestion of these pesticides by young children had a significant impact on children's bodies and in particular, the hunger mechanism. Researchers are beginning to evaluate how exposure to other environmental toxins during pregnancy, such as pesticides, may increase a child’s body mass index during the early years, and possibly later in life (Verhultst
et al., 2009; Smink et al., 2008).

Exposure to multiple environmental toxins during pregnancy has been linked to a higher body mass index in off spring. For example, exposure to cigarette smoke and DDE 4 (DDE – the main metabolite of the pesticide DDT), were linked to a higher body mass index in toddlers (Verhultst et al., 2009). In another study, researchers found that children whose mothers were exposed to hexachlorobenzene (a fungicide) during
pregnancy had a higher risk of being overweight at 6 years of age (Smink et al., 2008). Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) also reported that brief exposure early in life to environmental endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals (especially diethylstilbestrol - DES) resulted in increases in body weight as mice aged (Newbold et al., 2007).

Enough with the science class - the gist of this, as you can clearly see, is that exposure to chemicals has been shown to increase body mass.

In addition, other studies show that the children of pregnant women and nursing mothers who ate healthy, nutrient dense fruits and vegetables were far more accepting of fruits and vegetables in their diets than were those whose mothers did not eat fruits and vegetables. Food's flavors apparently are found in both amniotic fluid and breast milk and children develop food preferences very early.

The bottom line - pregnant and nursing women should consume organic foods, especially nutrient dense foods including organic fruits and vegetables. They will help their children develop normal metabolisms and lower the risk of obesity in childhood and adulthood as well as foster a healthy appetite for healthy food.

More on this series in an upcoming blog post.

What do you think? Thoughts, comments, insights always welcome here!


You can read the full article from the Organic Center by following this link:
http://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/That_First_Step_Full.pdf Read more!

Healthy Kids Begin Organically

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions and it's now one of the leading childhood health risks. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes because it was most often seen in older, sedentary people. It took years of unhealthy diet and lack of exercise before these would finally take their toll. Pediatricians these days are seeing more and more children with Type 2 diabetes, almost unheard of a generation ago.

In fact, two thirds of U.S. teens have one or more "adult" medical conditions. Clearly, overweight, obese children with Type 2 diabetes (and/or metabolic syndrome) is among the most urgent health issue facing our country. Kids need healthy food and healthy lifestyles, including active play time, to build the foundation of a healthy life. Dr. Alan Greene, Clinical Professor at Stanford University, is a technical advisor to The Organic Center and firmly believes that organic food is a critical component in raising healthy children.

What's the connection between obesity, Type 2 diabetes and organic food? There are many and in this post and several to follow, we'll discuss the answers to this question.

Part I - Getting Children Off To A Good Start

For a woman contemplating preganancy, the six months prior to conception, the nine months of pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life are periods of heightened vulnerability to developmental abnormalities, some with significant and lifetime consequences. An expecting mother's diet during pregnancy provides the nutrients available to the developing fetus and also plays a major role in determining how many toxic chemicals are present in amniotic fluids. Toxic chemicals in amniotic fluid can block normal development. So, yes, eating food loaded with chemical and pesticides does impact a developing fetus while in the womb and for a lifetime afterward.

Eating a well-balanced diet full of organic fruits, vegetables, dairy and grains can eliminate dietary exposure to pesticides and harmful chemical food additives. An organic diet during early childhood can establish and sustain taste-based preferences for healthy (nutirient dense) foods for a lifetime of healthy eating. Children develop their taste preferences during early life and starting them off with nourishing, organic foods can help them develop a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

How can we get children off to a good start? Before, during and after pregnancy -
- Purchase more organic fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and dairy
- Plant an organic home or family garden or participate in organic community farming
- Consume a healthy breakfast every day
- Cook and eat healthy meals at home
- Try new recipes and quick meals using organic, raw and minimally processed foods

Beyond diet, engage your child in active play every day. Learn to play with your child and you'll benefit from a more active lifestyle as well. Walk in the neighborhood, dance to silly songs, play hide and seek or tag. Think of activities that are fun, engaging and active and build a family foundation of health and wellness.

Until next post, be well, be healthy, organically -
Now go out there and enjoy your day!

(Click here to download and read the full report entitled "That First Step" from The Organic Center now.)
Read more!