Organic Rx - A Prescription for Planet Earth

Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician on the faculty of Stanford University’s School of Medicine and on the board of directors of The Organic Center, Boulder, Colorado, has developed an “organic prescription” of ten foods and crops you can buy that, in a single dose, can purify both your body and the planet: milk, potatoes, peanut butter, baby foods, ketchup, cotton, apples, beef, soy, and corn.

Dr. Greene bases his guide on his assessment of which pesticides are most harmful to humans, along with the negative effects of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and chemical fertilizers. His choices are also based on how growing these crops organically reduces greenhouse gas emissions and toxic chemicals in air and water, and stems the depletion of non-renewable resources and the uncontrolled spread of genetically modified organisms.

“Many people first exploring organic foods begin with fruits and vegetables in hopes of reducing their exposure to harmful pesticides,” Dr. Greene says. “Choosing strategic organic foods can indeed quickly and dramatically decrease your family’s exposure to worrisome pesticides. While this is very useful, fruits and vegetables are only part of the diet, and pesticides on the plate are only one part of the health story.”

To read more about Organic Rx and view videos about each of these crops, visit www.drgreen.com.

Photo by svanes.