Everyday, new information about negative health, climate, and economic impacts of chemical-intensive agriculture abound, while new reports emerge showing the benefits of organic agriculture and lifestyle. Read about them here.
News on Healthy Alternatives
Independent Organic Brand List
The Cornucopia Institute
Cornucopia’s Independence Matters list spotlights organic brands that remain independently owned and committed to certified organic sourcing. Choosing these companies means supporting farmers and businesses that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and fewer pesticides in our food system.
EWG’s 2025 Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce
EWG
With grocery costs rising, choosing where to allocate your budget for organic produce is more important than ever. The Dirty Dozen list highlights fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues, like strawberries, spinach, and kale. Focus on buying these organic when you can. It’s a smart way to protect your health while stretching your budget.
Best (& Worst) Reusable Water Bottles — Stainless Steel & Glass
Mamavation
Reusable water bottles are a win for the planet, but are they safe for your health? Tests show stainless steel and glass bottles are excellent choices for reducing toxin exposure and plastic waste. Avoid plastic bottles with hidden risks of leaching chemicals into your drink.
Goats mowed a path away from glyphosate for one Virginia town
Bay Journal
In Wytheville, Virginia, the town has turned to goats for managing invasive plants, offering a natural alternative to glyphosate-based herbicides. This approach not only addresses environmental and health concerns but also proves effective in maintaining overgrown areas, especially in difficult terrains.
Pesticides & Mosquito Control: Dangers & Safe Management
Maryland Pesticide Education Network
An outline of several non-toxic ways to manage mosquitoes.
“As our climate continues to change, mosquito-borne diseases will be an increasing public health challenge for which we must prepare.”
Managing Mosquitoes Without Pesticides
Maryland Pesticide Education Network
There are safer ways to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes! Don’t let mosquitoes spoil your fun!
“As the impact of climate change worsens—longer warm and wet seasons—we must prepare to deal with an increase in mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases that affect people, wildlife and our waterways.”
Stop Eating Pesticides
Consumer Reports
Consumer Report’s ratings to get the health benefits from fruits & vegetables while minimizing your risk from toxic pesticides.
Check out FoodPrint’s Tips for Sustainable Grocery Shopping!
FoodPrint
Tips by FoodPrint on how to shop for groceries sustainably.
“Meatloaf, roast chicken, chickpea stew: what’s for dinner tonight?”
Levels of brain-damaging pesticide drop 61% after a week on an organic diet
GoOrganic
Two recent peer-reviewed studies provide fresh evidence that we are exposed to pesticides in our daily food, many which are carcinogenic or toxic to our brains and hormone systems and once an organic diet is adopted there is a 61% drop in pesticide levels within our bodies.
Why Choosing Organic Tea Is Essential
Only Organic
A study found 91% of Celestial Seasonings tea tested, had pesticide residues.
“The colder months always inspire us to warm up with a nice cup of tea and a good book near the fire.”
How to avoid the toxic kitchen chemicals that could damage your fertility
Washington Post
The kitchen is often the hub of the home — and one of the biggest sources of exposure to phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), agents that essentially hijack hormones in the body’s endocrine system.
Are organic tampons the best choice for women’s health?
Longevity
In addition to fragrances and chemicals used in the bleaching process, the risk of pesticide exposure may be the biggest reason to switch to organic tampons.
Securing a non-toxic work environment
Center for Progressive Reform
Workers should be able to earn a paycheck without putting their lives or their health and well-being on the line. Yet every day, an estimated 137 U.S. workers succumb to diseases caused by on-the-job exposure to toxic chemicals and other hazardous substances, and hundreds of thousands more suffer from nonfatal illnesses. In fact, more people die annually from toxic exposures at work than from car crashes, firearms, or opioids.
You can cut your cancer risk by eating organic, a new study says
CNN
Those who frequently eat organic foods lowered their overall risk of developing cancer, a study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine finds. Specifically, those who primarily eat organic foods were more likely to ward off non-Hodgkin lymphoma and postmenopausal breast cancer compared to those who rarely or never ate organic foods.