What You Need to Know about Pesticide Sensitivity and Diet

Are you struggling with gut health? Maybe it's scorching heartburn. Or bloating and cramping takes over the gut a little while after eating, and then it only gets worse. A careful food diary confirms the problem only happens after you eat certain foods. Friends mention that maybe it’s gluten intolerance, but gluten doesn’t always seem to be the trigger.

And then you may end up eliminating some foods that seem like the triggers—soy, dairy, peanuts, corn—only to find the eliminated list growing and no end in sight to the problems. It's entirely possible that the problem might not be the food at all. Instead, it could be a reaction to the pesticides that are on the food. Here’s what you need to know.

Pesticides are Everywhere

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has launched numerous investigations into the pesticide content in our food, and their findings haven’t been exactly encouraging for those who want to stay away from chemicals. According to their most recent analysis, almost 70% of non-organic produce distributed in the United States contains dangerous residues. Many items are contaminated with more than one poison, some of which we cannot wash, soak or scrub out.

Pesticide in or on Our Food

Some of the worst offenders are strawberries, spinach, kale, stone fruits and apples.

Grains are also becoming an increasing problem due to farmers using glyphosate (Roundup) to quick-dry their harvests. It saves them time and money, but it also introduces the chemical to countless additional foods as grains go into many things we eat every day. EWG’s testing of 28 grains and cereals determined that every sample contained the dangerous chemical, and 26 of them were at levels EWG deemed to be dangerous. The worst offenders? Something we tend to consider very healthy: Cheerios and Quaker Oatmeal.

Pesticides and Food Sensitivities

Regular consumption of these poisons can take a toll on the body, though some people develop more severe reactions than others. The Colorado Department of Agriculture warns that repeated exposure to certain chemicals may lead to sensitivities and allergies.

People who develop pesticide allergies may experience asthma-like symptoms in response to the fumes. Research has shown glyphosate exposure in animals can also cause “anorexia, lethargy, hypersalivation, vomiting, and diarrhea.” Some people might even develop intolerances to certain foods in response to the chemical. One study linked glyphosate exposure to celiac sprue and gluten intolerance.

Researchers have found another common poison, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), may play some role in food sensitivities, as well. In an article recently published in Annals of Allergy, Allergy and Immunology, participants with high urine levels of 2,4-D were far more likely to have some sort of food sensitivity. 

Reducing the Impacts of Pesticide

Pesticides aren’t going anywhere, so it’s up to the consumer to be informed if they want to keep exposure to a minimum. Food sensitivities may remain even after the removal of the pesticides from the diet, so perhaps it's best to act sooner than later.

Reduce overall exposure by choosing organic foods over non-organic ones whenever there’s an option. Only eat organic/non-GMO cereals and grains. Stay up to date on the EWG’s yearly “Clean 15” list because it can shift based on current research. For example, the cleanest fruits and veggies in 2020 were avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, onions and papayas. Other cleaner choices included frozen sweet peas, eggplants, asparagus, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, honeydews and kiwis. These can be safely consumed in their non-organic form. Check the latest lists to learn those we need to most avoid, too.

With such an onslaught of toxic substances invading our meals—from pesticides to additives—it’s no wonder so many of us have digestive problems and other health issues. But gut health goes well beyond eating the right food. We need to know what's on our foods as well as what's in them. And we need to choose wisely what we will consume. Hopefully, this gave you some resources to start planning how you will tackle this complex issue in your own life.

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