Chem - HW#2

During class we read an article called "Are you Eating Monsanto weed killer for breakfast." It really opened my eyes to how bioaccumalation of pesticides is affecting us. The study performed by the Alliance for Natural Health showed trace amounts of synthetic pesticides in pre-packaged breakfast foods and grains. This wasn't surprising to me because in the back of my mind I believe none of those items benefit my health. The shocker was "the amount detected in cage-free organic eggs actually exceeded the allowable limit under FDA guidelines." This means the chickens are eating so much corn and feed with synthetic pesticides that their bodies have accumulated more than the regulated amount. I never considered how the synthetic pesticides are getting into the animals and for chickens this means its getting into their eggs. I realized I am likely ingesting more chemicals and synthetic pesticides than I am aware. I currently only buy pasture raised eggs, but I have no idea what kind of chemicals exist on the pasture where the chickens feed.  I understand my portions need to change because my carbon footprint when it comes to food is larger than I like it to be. I am deceasing my egg intake to twice a week, red meat to 3-4x a month (around menstruation), and fish to 4x a month. 

I've done some research in regards to the food I eat and I understand farmers markets are a go to place for a lot of produce. But my breakfast is normally congee, oatmeal, or eggs. I literally have no idea how or where the rice and oats are grown. It's time for me to ask more questions and do another level of research into what I am eating. In this case of bioaccumalation ignorance is not bliss, its more of the acceptance of a impending internal pathology. It's important to me to limit the amount of substances which my body has to filter on a regular basis and be conscious to how my eating habits affect the world.