By Jenna Barrington
How much produce do you have on YOUR grocery list?
If you are working to improve and/or maintain your family’s health, then I imagine you spend a lot of time in the produce section. Modern society has made buying groceries convenient, but what if that all changed?
What if the following items were NOT available when you went shopping this week?
Anything on that list you would miss?
That was a list of only SOME of the produce that come from plants pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators.
The sad truth is, bee populations have been dropping over the past several years. If this decline continues, soon we are going to be in serious trouble.
It’s easy to ignore headlines about the world’s bees being in danger, because, unless you’re a beekeeper, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about bees or realizing how they contribute to the food in your kitchen.
To spread awareness, the University Heights Whole Foods Market decided to take produce off the selves that wouldn’t be there without the help of bees. The results were sobering.
Available Produce With Bees
Available Produce Without Bees
The market pulled 237 items from their shelves, about 52% of their usual produce stock.
Ouch.
What’s The Problem? What’s Killing Off The Bees?
Corn Syrup
Yes, you heard it right. Although a bee’s natural diet is honey, beekeepers have been using high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and other substitutes to feed their bees while harvesting the honey to sell.
A study released in 2013 pointed to this unnatural diet as being a primary cause in colony collapse and population decline in both the U.S. and Europe.
Looks like corn syrup is just as bad for bees as it is for people. When you compare the nutritional value of honey to that of HFCS, it’s really no wonder the bees are suffering. Honey helps to detoxify and strengthen a bee’s immune system against disease. HFCS simply does not have adequate nutrients to be a viable substitute.
Pesticides
We use A LOT of pesticides in the U.S. and some of these may be damaging to our bees, studies say.
Researchers found over 35 pesticides and fungicides in pollen they collected from bees used to pollinate crops in 5 different states. The levels of these chemicals in some of the pollen were considered lethal.
It might be time to cut down on the pesticides and turn to more organic farming practices. Contrary to popular belief, there are VERY AFFORDABLE and less damaging methods of keeping crops pesticide-free!
“Bee” Part Of The Solution
Think there is nothing you can do to help the bees? Think again!
#1 Buy Organic – If pesticides are a huge issue for our bees, then we must raise our voices in favor of organic farming practices! The biggest way you can speak out about this is to use your money.
Try to buy as much organic food as possible and support local growers when you have the opportunity. This is beneficial not only to the bees, but to your health as well! If together we create the demand for organic food, growers will have no choice but to turn to more organic methods!
Worried about finances? Check out Food Babe’s tips on How To Eat Organic On A Budget!
#2 Plant Wildflowers And Pesticide-Free Plants – Support your local bee population by providing them with safe plants and lots of flowers to pollinate and make their honey out of.
#3 Help To Spread Awareness – People can’t change something that they don’t even know is happening. Be vocal about what you know. Spread the word about the importance of bees and the current jeopardy they are in. The more of us that know, the more of a difference we can make!
Conclusion
It is up to EACH ONE OF US to make a difference. It is up to YOU. You can start making your impact today by sharing this article with your friends and family!
Glenn was in an accident with a hockey puck that made it so his mouth had to be wired shut! While he was going through recovery he found that Organifi Protein sustained him in a healthy way where he was able to maintain his muscle mass while still be able to loose weight.
-Tragedy Turns to Opportunity, Weightloss and Holistic Health
Glenn was in an accident with a hockey puck that made it so his mouth had to be wired shut! While he was going through recovery he found that Organifi Protein sustained him in a healthy way where he was able to maintain his muscle mass while still be able to loose weight.
-Tragedy Turns to Opportunity, Weightloss and Holistic Health
