09/07/2026
Getting and staying healthy is a struggle — even the fruit you scrub still has a film on it. That's often just natural wax the fruit produces, plus whatever residue is left on top of it. Buying organic, non-GMO, and choosing companies that use fewer pesticides can help reduce that residue, but it shouldn't be this hard just to eat clean.
We're told to eat the skins of fruits and vegetables for the fiber and nutrients — but some people notice their bodies push back (gas, bloating, that off feeling). For some, that reaction may be tied to pesticide residue or how the produce was grown, though everyone's body responds differently.
The research on this is still evolving and, honestly, contested — GMOs themselves have broad scientific backing as safe to eat, but concerns about pesticide exposure and how conventional produce is grown are worth paying attention to, especially for people who are sensitive to it.
Organic costs more, and in this economy that's a real barrier for a lot of people. Not everyone can grow their own food, and cost often dictates what we have access to. That's a systemic problem, not just a personal one — which is why I still think our government and food system need to do better.
In the meantime, I do what I can with what's in my control: I pay attention to how my body reacts to food, and I make choices — organic where I can afford it, and habits that support my gut — based on that.
