Is There Arsenic in Your Food?

Arsenic is in your food. It can be found in rice, vegetables, and fruit, as well as in juices, wine, and even water. Over the years, research has found that too much arsenic can be toxic to your health --- but just how poisonous is it? While some websites and articles use the presence of arsenic as a scary-sounding alarm to get your attention, a little arsenic in your wine or vitamin supplements isn’t actually as dangerous as it sounds.

Organic vs Inorganic

The truth is that arsenic occurs naturally in much of the environment surrounding us, including the soil. It’s important to note that there are two types of arsenic: organic and inorganic. No, the meaning of “organic” in this case isn’t the same as when you see it on store packages. In arsenic terms, “organic” simply means that the arsenic has bonded with the element carbon, while inorganic arsenic has no carbon.

Potential Health Risks

Inorganic arsenic, found often in foods like rice, flour, grapes, and green, leafy vegetables, is believed to have more health risks than organic arsenic, which exists in food like fish. Studies have found an association between high levels of inorganic arsenic intake (particularly in drinking water) and long-term health issues, such as vascular disease, or cancer of the skin, lungs, and bladder. It has also been linked to some issues like stomach problems, liver damage, and anemia.

Don’t Panic

This doesn’t mean you need to panic and go throw out everything you own that may contain arsenic. While it still isn’t known for sure how beneficial arsenic may be, there’s some research suggesting that it may play a positive role in the metabolism. Research is ongoing to find the clear differences between good and toxic levels.

Otherwise, most negative effects take place over long periods of time with high levels of ingestion. While it’s important to be aware of eating habits and know about how much arsenic you’re taking in, the amount you’ll ingest naturally with a healthy and varied diet won’t rob you of valuable years.