Are you one of those who peruse the fruit and vegetable aisle wondering what the real difference is between organic and conventional produce? After all, there is no obvious difference, right? But what you don’t see is what is on the outside and even on the inside of the produce that you are consuming.
A Fungicide that Makes You Fat
Recent studies published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives may help you make up your mind about whether to buy organic produce or not. It seems that minute doses of the fungicide “triflumizole” caused mice to give birth to babies that were highly likely to become obese. Triflumizole is a commonly used fungicide used on leafy greens. This chemical has been classed as an obesogen – a chemical that disrupts metabolic processes, making it difficult to lose or maintain weight. Since such a tiny amount was needed to affect these adverse results in laboratory mice, scientists suspect that these doses are already presently circulating in our existing food supply. Researchers are also raising eyebrows and looking at a correlation between this chemical and the dramatic 73% increase in overweight infants that has been seen since 1980.
How Obesogens Work
Research on obesogens is ongoing and new studies are revealing how these chemicals interfere with our body’s metabolic processes. Some obesogens stimulate the over production of fat cells. Others alter hormone activity, causing your body to store excess fat instead of burning it. Still others cause the organism to overeat by interfering with chemical signaling that sends the message that the body has had enough.
Many chemicals are known to be obesogens such as those found in vinyl plastics, stain-resistant carpeting, and non-stick cookware.
Obesogens are a growing health threat. To protect yourself and your family, avoid plastics as much as possible, choose cast iron or ceramic cookware, and, of course, buy organic produce whenever possible.
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