Strawberries – Harmful or Beneficial to Your Health? – Part II

You know how one thing leads to another?  Well that’s exactly what happened when I first began reading about strawberries.  It all started because I was thinking about growing my own and wondering why I would consider it.  It’s just so much easier buying them! 

Then, just like every other fruit and vegetable grown, I saw what they do to the strawberry plant to try and make it produce more and to eradicate any type of pests that would damage their crop.

Both of those things (producing more and eliminating pests) are fine but when the solution is as bad as what commercial growers have chosen to do – that’s not fine with me!

Strawberries have wonderful nutritional qualities which you can read about more fully in Part I of Strawberries – Harmful or Beneficial to Your Health?

To do a quick recap…

• they are loaded with Vitamin C – beating out raspberries and blackberries

• they are ranked #4 in fruits for their high antioxidant levels

• they have anti-inflammatory properties

• they are finding evidence that blood sugar levels may be regulated eating 1 cup of strawberries 3 times/week

Here we have a beautiful fruit designed by God that will meet nutritional and health needs in our body, but what does man do to it?  Let’s find out.

The EWG’s 2011 Shoppers Guide lists what is called the “Dirty Dozen”.  These dozen fruits/vegetables have all been found to have the most pesticide residues compared to all other fruits/vegetables.

Strawberries is #3!

Just what chemicals are we ingesting every time we bite into a Strawberry?  Let’s find out.  I know this isn’t complete but this is what I’ve found.

Methyl Bromide

-this is a fumigant that is injected into the soil to a depth of 12-24″ before a crop is planted.  The soil is then covered with tarps to keep the fumigant contained.  After 24-72 hours, workers remove the tarps.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Methyl Bromide is a toxic compound.  It is not only harmful to the pests that it targets, but it quickly enters into the atmosphere. 

If humans are exposed to a high level of this chemical results can be nervous system and respiratory system failure, as well as specific and severe harmful effects on the lungs, eyes, and skin.

Methyl Bromide was phased out through the years 1999-2005 because of its reportedly damaging effects to the ozone.

A replacement for Methyl Bromide was needed and finally found in…

Methyl Iodide

Methyl Iodide was approved under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010 despite many physicians and chemists coming forward with their valid concerns.

This is a known carcinogen which can cause birth defects, late term miscarriage and neurological disorders.  According to Pesticide Action Network, the concern over using this pesticide that’s sprayed into the ground, is not for the consumer, it is for the workers and those who live nearby. 

Methyl Iodide is injected into the ground before the strawberry grows and then dissipates into the air as well as moving into the groundwater.  This of course means that drinking water would be affected.

Captan

a fungicide used to improve the outward appearance, making them brighter and healthier-looking.  It was first listed as a possible carcinogen but according to the EPA it’s “not likely” to be a human carcinogen at exposure levels associated with agricultural use. 

Get this…

It affects all the other animals but not humans?  I don’t believe that for one second!http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/qa.html

I also found it astounding that they had human volunteers that ate Captan for the study.  These people are crazy!

There are 54 different pesticide residues found on strawberries when they go to market.  To see the list go to What’s on My Food?

It is highly suggested that you buy organic, if possible or maybe you should have a few plants of your own?

Strawberries grow well in strawberry pots, containers, as a hanging plant and of course in your garden.



Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_iodide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captan

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/captangen.pdf

http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/food.jsp?food=ST

 Joining up with Kelly the Kitchen Cop for Real Food Wednesday.

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Sorry about the formatting.  I couldn’t get it to change.