| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic | | | | out of our environment and out of our bodies. |
| Encephalomyleitis or encephalopathy (ME) may be | | | | Although the human body can cope to some degree |
| caused by long-term exposure to chemical toxins in | | | | with these chemicals, it may be asked what would |
| our environment. On 29th July this year the BBC ran | | | | be the results of overloading a human body with |
| a news item describing the results of a report | | | | them. The result may very well be chronic fatigue |
| commissioned by The Food Standards Agency | | | | syndrome and if you have this illness then it is |
| (Researchers from the London School of Hygiene | | | | probably a good idea to give your body a chance to |
| and Tropical Medicine). The report found that there | | | | clear the toxins out of your system without |
| was practically no nutritional advantage in eating | | | | continually adding to them. This information may not |
| organic food compared to conventionally produced | | | | only be pertinent to people with ME/CFS. If you |
| food. Further to this it was stated that there was no | | | | know anyone who has gone through this horrendous |
| evidence of those eating organic food gaining any | | | | illness then you will be well warned to take note of |
| extra health benefits. | | | | this advice. Chronic fatigue syndrome can suddenly |
| However, the report did not consider levels of | | | | affect even the fittest of individuals. Whilst the |
| pesticides like organophosphates, which are used | | | | short-term effects of exposure to organophosphates |
| within conventional farming practice and the effects | | | | have been well documented in articles about 'sheep |
| that they may have. This report may therefore be | | | | dip poisoning', long-term exposure to lower levels of |
| missing the point entirely. The reason people should | | | | organophosphates and similar pesticides have had |
| eat organic fruit, vegetables or meat is not to gain | | | | practically no documentation. |
| further nutrition, but to keep these chemical toxins | | | | |