Studies have shown that ‘organic food has a dramatic and immediate protective effect against organic metabolites in urine samples taken from children’. (Chengshen Lu et al study with Environmental protection Agency, 2006).
We have all heard that pesticides are toxic – dangerous, because they poison our soil, water and ground, they cause allergies, endocrine issues, skin reactions, cancer, birth defects – several unthinkable and nasty things. Others advocate the use of these chemicals so as to ensure that the food supply will be enough to feed all the inhabitants of our Earth. The thought is that more than half the world’s food supply would be lost without the control of insects, weeds and diseases, a loss we can scarcely afford.
This larger debate will rage on – but pesticides have an undisputed impact on the health of children. Quite simply put, the impact is greater on children’s health because children eat and drink more relative to their body weight than adults. This leads to a higher dose of pesticide residue per pound of body weight. Their immature kidney and liver systems cannot process or remove pesticides as well as our adult bodies. Their developing brains, nervous system and organs are most vulnerable to pesticide toxicity at this critical time of growth.
We have the choice to avoid this impact, we can make the choice to feed our children and toddlers organically grown, pesticide and chemical free food that supports cognitive development of kids. Studies have shown that ‘Organic food has a dramatic and immediate protective effect against organic metabolites in urine samples taken from children’. (Chengshen Lu et al study with Environmental protection Agency, 2006). In fact, several research studies are ongoing to prove the detrimental effects of pesticides, and compelling past studies have resulted in the banning of chemicals such as DDT.
The other food additives, both natural and chemical that our children should not be exposed to are preservatives. Preservatives act as agents to increase the shelf life of food as well as to ‘preserve’ flavour. Natural preservatives include sugar and salt and chemical additives range from nitrates, nitrosamines, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), sulfites, to Benzene and sodium and potassium benzoates.
While we may think that salt and sugar are harmless, the fact is that sugar is causing a diabetes, hypertension and obesity epidemic. The taste for excessive sugar and salt gets developed at a young age and as we age, the over-consumption of both salt and sugar impacts our health. With more sedentary lifestyles even for children, a sugar-fuelled childhood obesity pandemic has hit us and it is best that children are fed fresh, preservative-free food and as far as possible, home cooked food.
While preservatives are often marketed as convenience foods, you can still have the ease of packaged foods that do not contain harmful ingredients to increase their shelf life. Small changes such as buying for the week, rather than for the month, storing grains and perishables in the refrigerator, and other natural storage techniques will help overcome the mindset of ‘needing’ long shelf-life, packaged food ingredients. In today’s times where home delivery is an option, buying for the week is not difficult or ‘inconvenient’ as it was previously. Further, exposing young palettes to diverse baby foods across seasons and menus will support the purchase of smaller quantities.
Pesticides and preservatives which are intricately linked to our food production and processing systems do have their benefits and their place in certain situations. They continue to be the topic of research studies and anecdotal stories of extremely positive health outcomes upon the stopping of their consumption. The prudent course of action would be use food, which is free from preservatives and flavors for kids, mainly packed with multi-vitamins.
At Conscious food, we understand the importance of sound and foundational nutrition for our children. We are committed to their long-term health and nutrition and have developed the Conscious Food for kids range keeping this in mind. The ingredients are naturally sourced, pesticide free, protein and mineral rich, and delicious resulting in high-quality food for young kids. Our natural food for children is made rich in taste in balanced measure for the healthy growth of your precious toddlers. The flours are preservative free and just one trial will have your children hooked onto not only the taste, but the beneficial nutrition too.
Conclusion
Because kids consume more food and liquids in relation to their weight than adults do, children's health is more negatively impacted. Preservatives have been linked to more serious problems like Asthma, respiratory reactions, hyperactivity, heart weakness, obesity, cancer, skin reactions, migraines, and allergies. The wise course of action would be to use them only when necessary and regularly, fall back on organic vegetables, grains, groceries, and minimally processed foods devoid of preservatives.
