News Release

July 12, 2006

Contact: Carolyn Pennington, 860-679-4864
e-mail: cpennington@uchc.edu

Summer’s Crops Give Boost to Healthy Eating

Many Farms Offer Organic Produce

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Summer is the easiest time to eat healthfully thanks to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables offered by local farmers. The freshest, most nutritious produce is what's grown closest to you. And many local farms now grow their produce organically, without the use of conventional pesticides and fertilizers.

“Most pesticides have an estrogenic or neurologic effect once they enter our bodies,” says Mitch Kennedy, N.D., of the Charlotte Johnson Hollfelder Center for Women’s Health at the UConn Health Center. “Many of these chemicals concentrate in the fatty tissues, the breasts, liver, brain, and have direct effects on the functions of those organs. Eating organic fruits and vegetables avoids this issue all together.”

Produce that tends to carry high levels of pesticide residue include apples, peaches, bell peppers, pears, celery, potatoes, cherries, red raspberries, grapes (imported), spinach, nectarines and strawberries.

The produce that absorbs the least amount of pesticide spray are asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn (sweet), kiwi,  onions, peas (sweet) and pineapples.

For a handy wallet-sized list of how much pesticide is on which vegetables and fruit, see www.foodnews.org/pdf/walletguide.pdf.

According to Dr. Kennedy, most local organic farms run using a system called “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA) in which members can purchase an annual share in the farm and receive a weekly distribution of the harvest as well as access to pick-your-own crops. Now is the time to join as the harvest season is in full swing. To find a CSA organic farm near you, go to www.localharvest.org. 

Dr. Kennedy is a nationally board-certified and licensed naturopathic physician who specializes in women's health, pain management and environmental medicine. To make an appointment, call 800-535-6232.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, the UConn Medical Group and University Dentists. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

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