“Weed-free lawns, blemish-free produce, and bug-free blooms come with a high price tag: an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to researchers from Virginia Tech, during a meeting of the American Chemical Society. They reported that exposure to insecticides causes a cascade of damage targeting brain pathways involved in PD. And a recent long-term study found that the death rate from PD was 40 percent higher in California counties that used agricultural pesticides compared to counties with no such use.
To limit your exposure to pesticides, choose organic versions of the most heavily treated foods: strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, celery, apples, apricots, green beans, and cucumbers. Wash produce with a special rinse such as Healthy Harvest Fruit and Vegetable Rinse, available in health food stores. To control aphids, beetles, caterpillars, mildew and rust in your garden, use pesticide alternatives containing neem oil, jojoba oil, and/or canola oil. For weed control, place four sheets of wet newspaper around plants, then cover with leaves. By season’s end, the paper will be decomposed and can be mixed into the soil.” (Int J Epidemiol 2000; 29:323-9; beyondpesticides.org)
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