When I was a kid, we picked wild blackberries from a nearby field, took them home, rinsed them under water and popped them into our mouths. No worries about pesticides, genetic modification or added wax. The only things we had to watch out for were bugs. They feed off plants just like we do, and produce is no exception. I remember tiny caterpillars creeping along a stalk of celery or burrowed into an apple. And some are so good at hiding between folds of lettuce or florets of broccoli, you’d never know they were there. Gross or natural?
You’ve got to expect some infestation across all types of produce grown in all areas of land if you only let them rely on their own defenses, such as in organic farming. Bugs on produce generally aren’t harmful. On the other hand, spiders that feed on those bugs can be. Black widows have been spotted on grapes! Of course, you wouldn’t eat one, but in handling the fruit you could be bitten. Due to our agricultural processes and quality control, we are lucky enough to have plentiful supplies of quality organic produce that we usually don’t need to worry about other pathogens from contaminated crops.
Sometimes, those wild blackberries were uneven and lumpy or irregular in size. In the summer, when they were ripe, we were allowed to climb up a neighbor’s tree and pick some cherries. There were always a few that were conjoined, eliciting “eew” and “yay/bonus/double!” at the same time. The vegetables at the one farmer’s stand-in town included those that were spotted, discolored or just weirdly shaped. We nicknamed some “Misfit Mushrooms” and “Awful Eggplant”. They were still quite edible though. What I’m trying to convey is that natural produce with blemishes or deformity aren’t always pretty and can be downright ugly.
With the modern concern of food waste, there is a movement to use all of an available crop. Search the hashtag #UglyProduce and you’ll see what’s usually rejected by major grocers that can be salvaged. There’s actually a market for less-than-perfect fruits and vegetables! A California company ships boxes of such produce to customers in major cities on the west coast and Illinois. A major grocery chain in France offers a discount on its “inglorious fruits and vegetables.” Organic produce may or may not be ugly, but it’s certainly more prone to natural genetic diversity and environmental exposure.
The good news about organic produce is that you won’t get food grown with synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, or derived from genetic bioengineering. The USDA Pesticide Data Program summary for 2016 indicates that pesticide residue was present in 77% of fruit and vegetable commodity (high-consumption) samples, though 99% were below the tolerance levels allowed by the EPA. The criteria for carrying the USDA Organic Seal mandate that organic fruits and vegetables are grown in accordance with the National Organic Program regulations. To certify and carry the Certified Organic seal from CCOF, it’s required to follow similar organic standards.
According to Consumer Reports’ special report “Pesticides in Produce” eating produce that is organic lowers your personal exposure to pesticides and has a myriad of other health benefits. It may be tougher on your wallet, however. Before you decide to spend up for pricier organic options, be sure you’re getting the benefit of at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Whether organic or conventional, remember to WASH OFF YOUR PRODUCE under running water for 10-20 seconds before enjoying! Bye bye creepy crawlies, hello clean.
Note: Some organic produce isn’t certified if the farm opts not to go through the process and pay for the certifications and inspections, or the grower produces a very small amount of organic crop.
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I would like to find good breakfast diet. I can’t do milk products in the morning. Oatmeal is not my favorite, but I can eat it. I also need good lunch meal to carry with me as I am in sales so I’m in the car all day long.
My background:
Thanks for your help.
– Kent S.
Based on the information you provided, meals about 600-800 calories (assuming no snacks) seem suitable. You’d benefit from fiber, unsaturated fats including omega-3 fats and losing weight, hence the lower calorie range.
Here are a few options about 600 calories for you to consider:
Breakfasts
Lunches
Others have recently had similar questions. Read our answers here: Quick Eats While on the Road and The Mailman Diet.
– Debbie J., MS, RD
This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.
Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!
Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!
Are you searching for “kickboxing near me”? Stop the search party because you’ve struck fitness gold with Kickbox Cardio classes at LA Fitness. These classes aren’t just a workout, but an experience. With classes designed to kick, punch, bob, and weave your way to...
Incorporating cardio exercises between sets, also known as ‘cardio-acceleration’, is a revolutionary way to maximize your workout efficiency. This technique involves performing short bursts of cardio exercises, usually lasting 30-60 seconds, in between your...
In today’s fast-paced world, finding balance and maintaining mental and physical health can be challenging. However, combining exercise and mindfulness offers a powerful approach to achieving holistic well-being. Let’s explore how these practices complement each...
What are mucins? I just heard the term recently and it sounded like they are good for you, but I’d like more info. What do they do for you? And what are good sources of them?
– Kathryn J.
Mucins are glycoproteins that are an integral part of your immune system, acting as a physical barrier for epithelial cells against pathogens and foreign invaders and helping prevent inflammatory responses. They also act as lubrication in gel-like secretions such as saliva, mucus and tear film over the eyes. The mucins you produce are generally good for you, except the ones that are over-expressed and linked to cancer or respiratory ailments.
Other animals that produce notable mucins are snails, octopus, and giant jellyfish. Does that mean that eating them or their mucin will result in your gaining more human mucin? I could not determine that, although I did find out that apparently snail slime face masks are quite popular. Scientifically, it follows that if your mucins are lining your gut then they aren’t digested and absorbed, and therefore animal mucin consumed orally wouldn’t be either. But that is just my hypothesis.
From all the available literature it seems there are a few things you can eat to optimize your natural mucin:
In animal studies, it’s been shown that vitamin A and the amino acid threonine is needed for mucin synthesis. Vitamin A is found in eggs, dairy fat, dark green leafy and orange vegetables and fruit. Threonine — essential in the human diet since we can’t produce it — is found in protein (predominantly from meat, dairy foods and eggs). Eating adequate fiber which colonic bacteria feed on will prevent them from turning to gobbling up your mucin. Evidence is limited whether licorice root may help increase the natural production of mucins, but it has been used as a natural gut remedy for centuries.
– Debbie J., MS, RD
This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.
Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!
Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!
Are you searching for “kickboxing near me”? Stop the search party because you’ve struck fitness gold with Kickbox Cardio classes at LA Fitness. These classes aren’t just a workout, but an experience. With classes designed to kick, punch, bob, and weave your way to...
Incorporating cardio exercises between sets, also known as ‘cardio-acceleration’, is a revolutionary way to maximize your workout efficiency. This technique involves performing short bursts of cardio exercises, usually lasting 30-60 seconds, in between your...
In today’s fast-paced world, finding balance and maintaining mental and physical health can be challenging. However, combining exercise and mindfulness offers a powerful approach to achieving holistic well-being. Let’s explore how these practices complement each...
You’ve wanted to lose weight. You’ve wanted to get healthier, feel better, and have more energy. You’ve thought about the possibility of joining a gym, but something has held you back. Perhaps it’s fear, vulnerability, or a lack of confidence keeping you from accomplishing your fitness goals. Before allowing any more negativity to cloud your frame of mind, let’s push the pause button.
For many toying around with the thought of joining a gym (but slacking with the follow-through), we’re here to say: let’s not put off your health and happiness any longer. There seems to be this common misconception that one must get fit before getting fit in a club. That could not be any further from the truth. Yet, it’s an idea that many people believe, usually due to one of the fears listed below.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be in shape, an experienced-gym goer, or former athlete to reap the benefits of joining a gym. Whether you’re a complete beginner (or otherwise) there are ways to modify your gym experience to fit your personal physical fitness goals.
At LA Fitness, we’re a judgment-free zone. We’re here to help you reach all of your fitness and health goals. Come check us out today, and don’t be afraid to start.
Referenced:
Are you searching for “kickboxing near me”? Stop the search party because you’ve struck fitness gold with Kickbox Cardio classes at LA Fitness. These classes aren’t just a workout, but an experience. With classes designed to kick, punch, bob, and weave your way to...
Incorporating cardio exercises between sets, also known as ‘cardio-acceleration’, is a revolutionary way to maximize your workout efficiency. This technique involves performing short bursts of cardio exercises, usually lasting 30-60 seconds, in between your...
In today’s fast-paced world, finding balance and maintaining mental and physical health can be challenging. However, combining exercise and mindfulness offers a powerful approach to achieving holistic well-being. Let’s explore how these practices complement each...