The Truth About Food And Hunger

1. The office of Children's Health Protection at the Environmental Protection Agency declares that: "Children are at greater risk of pesticide exposure than most adults" and goes on to warn that "pesticides may cause a range of harmful health effects" including cancer, and injury to the nervous system, lungs and immune system. *1
2. Eating organic decreased pesticide levels in kids, a recent study by Environmental Health Perspectives (March, 2003) found that children who ate primarily organic fruits, vegetables and juice had one-sixth the level of pesticide byproducts in their urine compared with children who ate non-organic food. *1
3. Levels of antioxidants including vitamin C are about 30% higher in organic vegetables and fruit than vegetables and fruit sprayed with pesticides. *2
   Average levels of essential minerals were much higher in organically grown fruits and vegetables than conventionally grown produce.
4. Organically grown food averages over 60% higher levels of calcium, over 70% higher in iron, over 115% higher in magnesium, over 90% higher in phosphorus, over 123% higher in potassium and 60% higher in zinc. The organically raised food also averaged 29% lower in mercury than conventionally grown food. *3
5. Food insecurity- lacking access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources. The numbers of Americans living with food insecurity increased from 1999 to 2003. *4
6. The economy has worsened in Detroit from 2003 to 2005.
   The impact of hunger on children's health is severe. Poor nutrition stunts growth and learning and weakens the body's ability to fight infections. In addition, deficits in vitamins and minerals put children at risk for behavioral and emotional problems and learning disorders. Food insecure children are prone to the infection malnutrition cycle, increasing their risk of severe illness and hospitalization. *5
   

*1 Environmental Media Services

*2 As seen in the 2.12.05 Wall street Journal article, According to a study from the Organic Center for Education and Promotion

*3 Journal of Applied Nutrition 1993, 45: 35-39, Organic foods vs. supermarket foods: Element levels (Synopsis)

*4 Nord, M, Andrews M, Carlson S. Household food security in the united states, 2003. Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. ERS Research Brief.

*5 Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment program Hunger and food insecurity among American children: consequences and prevention. C-SNAP Report: March, 2005 Prepared by: Deanna Wilsonp, C-SNAP Hunger Fellow.




"In the 20th century, the average American diet shifted from one based on fresh, minimally processed vegetable foods to one based on animal products and highly refined, processed foods. As a result, Americans now consume far more calories, fat, cholesterol, refined sugar, animal protein, sodium, and alcohol and far less fiber and plant-derived nutrients than is healthful. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer have skyrocketed.

Heart attacks and strokes kill more than half of the modern world today and are the largest killers of both men and women. But, the promising news is that these common causes of death are avoidable and can be effectively reversed through aggressive nutritional intervention."

- Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

The Fourteen Super Foods And Their Possible Benefits:

Beans - lower cholesterol, combat heat disease, stabilize blood sugar, reduce obesity, relieve hypertension and lessen the risk of cancer.

Blueberries - lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and help maintain healthy skin to reduce the sags and bags brought on by age.

Broccoli - boosts the immune system, lowers the incidence of cataracts, supports cardiovascular health, builds bones and fights birth defects.

Oats - lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, high in fiber and protein.

Oranges - support heart health and prevent cancer, stroke, diabetes and a host of chronic ailments.

Pumpkin - helps lower the risk of various cancers (lung, colon, bladder, cervical, skin, and breast) and supplies nutrients necessary for healthy, youthful skin.

Wild Salmon - lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Soy - helps prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, and helps relieve menopausal and menstrual symptoms.

Spinach - decreases the chance of cardiovascular diseases, a host of cancers, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Tea - boosts the immune system, helps prevent cancer and osteoporosis, lowers the risk of stroke, promotes cardiovascular health.

Tomatoes - lower the likelihood of cancer, raise the skin's sun protection factor and seem to play a role in preventing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Turkey - a perfect example of a Twenty-First Century healthy protein source, extremely low in fat, and provides multiple nutrients which help build a strong immune system.

Walnuts - reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Yogurt - promotes strong bones and a healthy heart, another health promoting protein source, and a great source of Calcium.