There are always those studies released that say that we should all eat organic and local, and even more studies that show that putting your kids on a special diet will help them with this disorder and that disease. A few years ago it was stressed that parents of autistic children put their kids on a reduced-gluten, soy based diet. Needless to say, specialized diets are expensive, especially when there is just one kid in the house who may benefit from the decision. While browsing through StrollerDerby this morning, I came across an article that discusses pesticides and ADHD, which struck me much more than usual.It seems that more and more pesticides are becoming part of the problem: linked to growth development, illness, and now proven to be correlated to ADHD, they’re bad. What becomes more problematic, however, is when one considers just how many “kid-friendly” foods are on the Dirty Dozen list, like strawberries, blueberries, and celery. The blogger points out that there is no one formula for ADHD and to avoid food with toxins may not necessarily prevent ADHD all together – studies like this cannot be performed on groups of children since a variety of factors influence ADHD, including genes and exposure to lead and cigarette smoke. Further, exactly how the organophosphates compounds (the pesticide) are linked to the disorder remains unclear, but in a study of 1,139 children, researchers found that the number of children with ADHD rose with higher levels of pesticide breakdown products.Organophosphates, of which there are 40 kinds used as pesticides in the US, were first developed for chemical warfare. Though organic produce may be out of your budget — and it certainly is out of mine! — it’s best to look for ways to avoid pesticides however you can.What’s most important is to remember to always wash your produce, regardless of how clean it may look.For more information on the study, click here.
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