Produce and Pesticides: What You Should Know

The nitty-gritty on produce pesticides.

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Your Food, Your Health - As the weather warms up, you may find yourself reaching for lighter meals prepared with fresh fruits and vegetables. In recent years, the use of pesticides on commercially grown produce has spurred debate about the potential health concerns related to these chemicals. BET.com takes a closer look at the pesticides debate and how you can protect your health. — Britt Middleton (Photo: Andersen Ross/GettyImages)

Berries Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk in Women - Snacking on strawberries and blueberries may lower a woman’s risk of heart disease. A recent study looked at 93,000 women and found that of the 403 heart attacks, ladies who ate berries had a 32 percent decrease in heart disease risk than those who didn’t eat berries. Why? Researchers believe the flavonoids found in berries stop artery build up, says Red Orbit. (Photo: Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)

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What Are Pesticides and Who Monitors Their Use? - The Environmental Protection Agency registers or licenses pesticides for use in the United States and puts limits on how much of a pesticide residue can remain on food products or commodities. These chemicals are used to kill rodents and other potentially harmful organisms on commercially grown fruits and vegetables. (Photo: Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)

Black Farmers Get Word on $1.25 Billion Settlement - African-American farmers, who faced discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the past but have yet to be compensated, may be eligible for part of a recent $1.25 billion settlement, the agency recently announced. Between 1981 and 1996 the agency was found to have systematically discriminated against Black farmers. The deadline for farmers, or their family members, to file claims is February 28, 2012.(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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Possible Link to Parkinson's Disease - Researchers in a study published in the May 28 issue of the journal Neurology found that prolonged exposure to pesticides, bug and weed killers, and solvents increased the risk for developing Parkinson's disease by anywhere from 33 to 80 percent. However, researchers did not study whether the type of exposure — whether inhaled or absorbed through the skin — and application method affected risk. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Other Health Risks - Independent studies have also linked prolonged exposure to delayed or altered development, cancer, acute and chronic injury to the nervous systems, lung damage, reproductive dysfunction and damage to the endocrine (hormone) and immune systems, according to the EPA.   (Photo: Rachel Weill/Getty Images)

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Other Health Risks - Independent studies have also linked prolonged exposure to delayed or altered development, cancer, acute and chronic injury to the nervous systems, lung damage, reproductive dysfunction and damage to the endocrine (hormone) and immune systems, according to the EPA. (Photo: Rachel Weill/Getty Images)

What Does "Organic" Mean? - “Organic” is a designation made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program certifying that food was grown without synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, genetic engineering, sewage sludge or radiation methods. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), the nation’s leading environmental health research and advocacy organization, suggests eating organic produce when possible. (Photo: Courtesy of The United States Department of Agriculture)

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What Does "Organic" Mean? - “Organic” is a designation made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program certifying that food was grown without synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, genetic engineering, sewage sludge or radiation methods. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), the nation’s leading environmental health research and advocacy organization, suggests eating organic produce when possible. (Photo: Courtesy of The United States Department of Agriculture)

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Why It Matters - In addition to prolonging our lives, fruits and vegetables can help improve the quality of our health. It reduces our risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, cancers and eye problems. It can also stabilize your blood sugar and keep your appetite in check.   (Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Photos /Landov)

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Produce Prep - Foods not labeled organic are usually labeled "conventional" in most grocery stores. If you must buy conventionally-grown fruit or vegetables, experts say it is best to wash them and peel the skin off (where the pesticide residue resides) before consuming, however this may only have a limited effect. (Photo: PA Photos /Landov)

Get Healthy - This means different things for different people. Maybe you want to up your endurance or drop a few pounds or eat better — now’s the time to set healthy habits that will serve you well as you move forward.   (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

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Budget Woes - Buying organic can be expensive, but there are ways to help fit them into even the tightest of budgets. The EWG has a breakdown of the top 12 conventionally-grown produce to avoid and the top 15 deemed less hazardous to help you decide what's best for your budget and your family. Whether you choose organic or not, incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet is better than none at all, experts say. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

Buy In Season - As an added bonus, buying in-season fruits in vegetables will save you money at the grocery store. Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website to see what produce is in-season year-round. For example, apricots, corn and cherries are among the best produce to purchase during summer months and make great complements for summer grilling. (Photo: ITAR-TASS/Alexander Kolbasov /Landov)

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Buy In Season - As an added bonus, buying in-season fruits in vegetables will save you money at the grocery store. Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website to see what produce is in-season year-round. For example, apricots, corn and cherries are among the best produce to purchase during summer months and make great complements for summer grilling. (Photo: ITAR-TASS/Alexander Kolbasov /Landov)