Question: Cancer runs in my family, so I am trying to do anything I can to prevent it. I eat organic food to avoid pesticides and other chemicals, but I don’t like having to spend so much extra money. Do you think eating organic is a good way to help prevent cancer?


Dr. Hibberd's answer:

Organic fruits and vegetables have not been exposed to pesticides and chemicals, which some consumers believe may be harmful to their health. The American Cancer Society recommends a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables to help reduce your risk of cancer. Here's what they have to say about organically grown produce: "The term organic is popularly used to designate plant foods grown without pesticides and genetic modifications. At this time, no research exists to demonstrate whether such foods are more effective in reducing cancer risk than are similar foods produced by other farming methods."