Can You Select The Healthy Vegetable For You?

Comment by Debby Bruck on November 13, 2010 at 11:09pm

Dear Dr Rafeeque. For some reason these images take a long time to download and slow opening page. Still, it is viewable. It appears that you are making a point.

1. The first plant which is in the ground has little holes in the leaves. Therefore, some bugs have been eating at it and the assumption that it has no pesticides, etc.

2. The second plant in perfect condition with bright green color, the same kind of plant, could be coming off the shelf in the supermarket or grocery store. Most likely this plant has been treated to make it perfect.

The answer you are looking for is that we should select plant number one because it is the most natural and healthy for us. While plant number two, which appeals to all of our senses, we should not select. However, our emotional connection with that good looking plant, which I cannot smell because it is just a photograph, tells the brain to select it. Just like any animal wants the 'best' quality, the most beautiful, the highest quality in shape and form, the finest coloring, no marks, specks, deformities or inconsistencies. The mind works this way [probably for choosing a mate], but also for selecting food.

Now, if we put the food into our mouths and get to TASTE the plant and find that the mass produced vegetable tastes like chemicals, plastic or no taste or smell, while the more natural deep green plant without uniform shape or size has more delicious taste and fragrance, then we may learn this selection will be better to prepare our meals.

And, when children learn where food comes from and they start planting and become connected to their food, they will also prefer the less than perfect looking product. Now a days learning what to eat has to be taught, since it is not a natural phenomena.

Comment by Dr Ravindra Saraswat on November 14, 2010 at 5:12am

Dr. Rafeeque.
I also support to Debby.

Comment by Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmed on November 14, 2010 at 9:12am

Dear Dr Rafeeque

Do we really have a choice?

Comment by Debby Bruck on November 14, 2010 at 11:06am

Dear Dr AD. Thanks for smaller PDF image. All is well.

Comment by DR. ARINDAM DUTTA on November 14, 2010 at 12:02pm

Dear Debby,
The problem was not because of size. It was the format.... I changed it into usual jpeg and that worked.
For the convenience I scaled the size also to 60%.
Anyway, all is well which ends well. :)) .........ARINDAM

Comment by Dr Muhammed Rafeeque on November 14, 2010 at 11:23pm

Thanks for your comments.

Debby has told whatever I wanted to tell - Telepathy really works!

Yes, majority of people (including me)have only one choice, the second one, because it is good in appearance. Whereas the first one inhabits some pests. But the truth is, it is free from toxic chemicals like Endosulfan. In order to make "beautiful" vegetables for the supermarkets, the farmers are now forced to use toxic chemicals. The hazards of using endosulfan is very severe - It affects both the rich consumers and the poor people living near the cultivation sites. Now It is a major health issue in Kerala http://endosulphanvictims.org/gallery.htm

Now the ball is in our court. Stop purchasing the vegetables only on the basis of its appearance. Once we do that they will stop using toxins like endosulfan. Indirectly, our mentality is responsible for their mistakes!

Comment by Kuldip Singh on November 15, 2010 at 12:34am

Dr Rafeeque, You write that’s the major issue in Kerala. Well the same situation we find in Punjab also, rather this may be prevailing elsewhere in India as well. The need of the hour is to go in for ‘organic farming’. The general public has to made aware of the potential health hazards involved in consuming these pesticide-sprayed vegetables and the Governmental initiative in this direction can also go a long way in resolving this issue.

Comment by Debby Bruck on November 15, 2010 at 1:58am

I am in shock of the results of chemical use in your region. They must be over spraying an extremely toxic chemical. Totally unethical behavior the results of which should be totally banned. Are you telling me they are still allowed to sell this poison and that farmers would apply this substance knowing the outcome for their families who are in contact or those who eat the food?

Endosulfan, a highly toxic organochlorine pesticide was sprayed in the cashew plantations in Kasaragod District sine 1976, till 2001 regularly three times every year. The aerial spraying of Endosulfan was allegedly undertaken to contain the menace of the tea mosquito bug. The intensive use of Endosulfan results in a chemical disaster (similar to the case of Bhopal gas leak disaster ) Just after three years, the ill effects of Endosulfan spraying came to notice. As early as 1979, stunted growth and deformed limbs were noticed among new born calves. By 1990s health disorders of very serious nature among the human population came to the lime light. Children were found to be the worst affected with congenital anomalies, mental retardation, physical deformities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hydrocephalus etc. Men and women were also affected with various chronic ailments, many irreversible and difficult to treat. There is a high incidence of disorders of the central nerves system, Cancer and reproductive disorders. The National Institute Occupational Health (Indian Council of Medical Research) says that after studying various aetiological factors responsible for health problem was aerial spraying of Endosulfan.

This reminds me of the drug Thalidomide, that cause birth defects, which, I believe, they are still looking for ways to use for disease.

Comment by Dr Muhammed Rafeeque on November 15, 2010 at 5:15am

Thanks for the comments.

As Dr Kuldip said, same issue is there throughout India. But, in Kasarkod district, aerial spraying of Endosulfan is done. Initially, there was no opposition from the public, because the poor villagers enjoyed the scene of helicopter spraying some “medicines” on plants! The geography of Kerala also doubled the severity of hazards, because eastern border of Kerala is very much above the sea level, hence all rivers flow from east to west. The river water took the endosulphan sprayed in high-range to the sea level- affecting the whole population in Kazrakod district.

Now Endosulfan is banned in Kerala, but it is freely available in black market. It is also brought from other states, where it is sold like hot biscuits. What we need is, a strong action from the central government. Now they have formed a committee for inquiry. I hope they will give the genuine report.

Comment by Dr.Vikas Verma on December 8, 2010 at 11:51pm

Even This Endosulfan is freely used by the farmers in our part also, It has been brought into notice of authorities many times but they are as usual deaf.

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