This is shared by Dr Michael Osiecki:
“This is quite an interesting study comparing urinary pesticide residues in different diets. The study compared a standard western diet to a Mediterranean diet, combining conventional and organic sources for these foods.
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/115/2/364/6412942?
First, the good news. Total urinary pesticide residue excretion was 91% lower with organic (mean 17 μg/d; 95% CI: 15, 19) than with conventional (mean 180 μg/d; 95% CI: 153, 208) food consumption (P < 0.0001).
But here’s what was interesting – for the conventional group (non-organic), switching from the habitual western diet to the Mediterranean increased insecticide excretion from 7 to 25 μg/d (P < 0.0001), organophosphate excretion from 5 to 19 μg/d (P < 0.0001), and pyrethroid residue excretion from 2.0 to 4.5 μg/d (P < 0.0001).
I think this is something to be very aware of when changing to a higher plant-based diet. We know it has health benefits, but we also need to consider the effects of increased levels of pesticides as a consequence. Unfortunately, we have to be very selective with our food choices which is hard with increasing prices across the world and the premium that organic-based produce already demands.”
#ourfood#foodmatters#functionalmedicine#plantbased#plantbaseddiet#nutrition#functionalpharmacist#theintegrativepharmacist
