There are 3 steps you can implement into your daily routine to help you keep that excess fat off for life:

1. Eat your recommended calories.
2. Exercise Daily.
3. Choose organic!

Keeping your body clean by choosing predominately organic food can help you stay lean long-term. 

What's for dinner.

Research has shown a correlation with pesticides and increased body fat.  In fact, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers expressed that the drastic rise in the use of synthetic chemicals over time has matched the rise in the number of adults who are overweight and obese in the United States.  Since the obesity epidemic has occurred relatively quickly, it has been suggested that environmental causes may be more of the culprit than genetic factors.

The chemicals found in pesticides go right from the food we eat into our body. Studies indicate that these chemicals from pesticides act like estrogen

mimickers (xenoestrogens), elevating the body's fat storing hormones.  Therefore, eating pesticides may make the body more likely to store fat.

The bottom line action:  Buy organic, choose stainless water bottles, glass containers and use silverware more often.  If you are not used to buying organic, you can start gradually by introducing organic fruits and vegetables into your daily meals.  Here is a list of foods that you should immediately focus on buying organic since they have the highest pesticide residue:

Strawberries
Bell peppers (green and red)
Leafy Greens including spinach
Cherries (grown in the United States)
Peaches (grown in Chile)
Cantaloupe (grown in Mexico)
Celery
Apples
Apricots
Green beans
Grapes
Cucumbers
Potatoes

Please refer to our Organic Liaison Articles and References section that includes articles on which foods to buy organic.

References:
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. April 2002, 8(2): 185-192.
Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2008 October; 15(5): 403-408.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. Volume 61, Issue 10, December 2007: 665-678.
Brain Res Bull. 2010 Jan 15;81(1):85-91.
Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 102, Number 4, August 2009 , pp. 1506-1514(9).
Toxicological Sciences 76, 247-249 (2003).
British Journal of Nutrition (2000), 83:S5-S8. 

 Deborah is the Health Director for Organic Liaison, has been a Registered Dietitian for over 16 years, counseling clients on nutrition and fitness, and is the author of 200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life published by McGraw-Hill, Inc. Her mission is to educate Organic Liaison members to achieve optimal wellness through balanced eating and exercise. For more on Deborah - click here.

Order Deborah's book, 200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life.
Learn more about Organic Liason at www.OrganicLiason.com

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