Don't Run With the

This is definitely the week of serendipity.

After suffering for more than a year under the best (read worst) of “WalMart” medical care offered by our HMO, my husband and I reached deep into our pockets and visited a real doctor — the amazing Jack Gindi, M.D., Internal Medicine, Nutrition and Board Certified Medical Acupuncture And if that isn’t enough, Dr. Gindi is also an accomplished lifelong runner. Needless to say, I love this guy.

For those of you who don’t know, my runner husband had a heart attack a couple of years ago – likely brought on by his undiagnosed diabetes. His doctor has been issuing prescription after prescription to him like a Pez dispenser, resulting in new panoply of symptoms from painfully sore muscles to severe fatigue and weight gain of more than 25 pounds in 6 months. This had to stop…and that’s what brought us to Dr. Gindi. OK, enough background.

Dr. Gindi spent 4 hours (no, that’s not a typo) with us discussing Steve’s condition, and exactly what could be done about the situation. One of the things the doctor emphasized to us was the importance of proper nutrition AND the absolute necessity of buying organic fruits, vegetables and meats. Then lo and behold, what should come flooding into my inbox this morning but a slew of terrific information from a variety of sources on the importance of organic.

I really want to share these resources with you guys, so I’m going to paraphrase a bit and give you some links so that you can explore further.

All runners, from beginners to seasoned masters know the effect diet has on performance and recovery and runners tend to be more conscious of their diet and nutrition in general. According to David Schardt, senior nutritionist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “There are clear differences among fruits and vegetables in their loads of pesticides,” but there is a price to be paid for cleaner food. Organic fruits and vegetables typically cost 10-30% more than their non-organic counterparts and meats eggs and milk can run 50-100% more in their organic versions.

With so many of us living under much tougher economic conditions these days, spending more money at the grocery store may seem absurd, yet I suggest that we think of this more as an “insurance policy” to help build our immune systems, ward off injury and help “keep the doctor away” (no offense Dr Gindi!), which ultimately can save literally thousands of dollars in medical costs.

When budget is a concern, there is some help with the decision-making. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a watchdog organization based in Washington D.C., has published its list of “The Dirty Dozen”— those 12 fruits and vegetables consistently found to contain the highest levels of harmful pesticides. According to EWG spokeswoman Lauren Sucher, “Eating organic versions of The Dirty Dozen can reduce your exposure to contaminants by 90%!” EWG has also published a “Clean 15” list — those foods that were found to contain the lowest risk of pesticide exposure. The foods on this latter list can be safely purchased in their conventionally grown versions without significant harmful exposure.

The EWG lists can be really helpful when we are faced with making decisions at the supermarket, but let’s be clear about one thing that is of particular interest to runners; organic foods are a healthier choice – not simply in terms of toxin avoidance, but also in terms of nutritional value and support of physically active lifestyles. Studies show that many organic foods are higher in antioxidants and cancer-fighting nutrients and because runners tend to eschew processed and fast foods, we naturally eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to help rejuvenate tired muscles and stave off inflammation.

Outside of the obvious health benefits, shopping organic and buying our food locally carries tremendous benefits for our communities and our planet as well.

You can learn more about going organic from this excellent article by Maria Rodale that appears this month in Runners World and by visiting The Environmental Working Group’s website (please make a small donation if you can).

As for Steve and me, I’ve got the “Dirty Dozen” tacked up on my refrigerator as a reminder for when I go to the grocery store. As Doctor Gindi told us, proper nutrition and exercise is THE best insurance against disease and the best thing that you can do (along with aerobic exercise at least 4 times a week) to maintain a healthy lifestyle ALL your life (and support your running as well).

The Dirty Dozen, Toxic Chemicals and the Earth’s Future. Bruce E. Johansen

The Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 – iPhone App or downloadable wallet guide from EWG

A Natural Choice, Eating Organic food is good for your running, your health–and the planet too. Maria Rodale, Runner’s World, June 2010.

Miles run by our community: 22,768

Don't Run With the "Dirty Dozen"

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