Should we be concerned that practically every fruit and vegetable in the supermarket contains natural plant pesticides that are rodent carcinogens?
In 1990, Bruce Ames, Margie Profet, and Lois Swirsky Gold found that Americans consume an average of 1.5 grams of natural pesticides produced by plants themselves daily. They noted that 52 of them had been analyzed in animal cancer tests, in which rodents are fed exorbitantly high doses to see if they developed tumors. 27 were found to be carcinogens! To repeat, I am speaking exclusively about the natural chemicals plants produce to avoid being eaten, not sprayed-on synthetic pesticides. Should we be concerned?
Plant Toxins
Plants have been trying to "poison" us with their own "carcinogenic" pesticides for thousands of years. 1 Every species of plant analyzed contains its own set of perhaps a few dozen toxins. When plants are stressed or damaged, such as during a pest attack, they may significantly increase their natural pesticide levels, occasionally to levels that can be acutely toxic to humans. Extreme examples are plants like poison ivy; not so extreme examples are the foods we commonly eat.
Practically every fruit and vegetable in the supermarket contains natural plant pesticides that are rodent carcinogens. 2
What About Synthetic Pesticides?
Most synthetic pesticides have been tested on rats, and about half of them cause cancer as well. But, again, nearly half of all-natural and artificial chemicals tested chronically in animal cancer tests are carcinogens. Roundup or glyphosate is probably the most recognized synthetic pesticide known. A 2012 study showed that rats fed maize sprayed with Roundup developed more cancers. 3 But so do rats exposed to natural plant-derived pesticides.
Looking exclusively at synthetic pesticides' effect on cancer without considering natural pesticides from plants for comparison has created false perceptions and is a mistake.
Comparing Synthetic to Natural Pesticides
As previously stated, plants have been trying to kill us with more of their own pesticides for hundreds of thousands of years. But, for the most part, we have figured out which ones to avoid and which ones we can tolerate. As I mentioned, Ames, Profet, and gold calculated that we consume one and a half grams of natural pesticides daily, which is far more than the amount we get from synthetic pesticide sprays. Furthermore, they estimated that because the artificial pesticide level is so low, 99.99% of all the pesticides ingested by humans are made naturally by the plants we consume. They concluded that natural and synthetic chemicals are equally likely to be positive in animal cancer tests.
They also concluded that the cancer risk of both artificial and natural pesticide exposures is insignificant.
Why Do We Worry About Synthetic Chemicals We Consume 10,000 Times Less Than Equally Dangerous Natural Ones?
When we run the calculations, we consume 10,000 times more natural carcinogens in the form of natural pesticides than manufactured ones. But somehow, we are more concerned about the synthetic ones we consume in minute amounts. Since we evolved in nature, we should be evolutionarily equipped to handle naturally occurring things. But conversely, we have no experience with new chemicals and may not find they are harmful until it is too late. So maybe we are wise in our concerns over synthetic pesticides. Also, if a new chemical is unique to human exposure, we may have no ability to metabolize or neutralize it. Finally, keep in mind that the researchers were only looking at carcinogenesis. There are other harmful effects natural, and synthetic pesticides may present.
Do We Need to Minimize Natural Pesticides?
The answer is maybe. Let me explain. Even the strictest carnivore may be exposed to synthetically sprayed pesticides through aerosol particles and water contamination. But the carnivore diet results in less exposure to plant toxins than any other diet. Nevertheless, cancer aside, plant toxins do pose problems. Ever try to cut an onion? How many hot peppers can you eat before you feel ill? I recognize there is a big difference between cancer and an upset stomach or stinging eyes, but chronic problems are no joke, either. Plant toxins can cause chronic illnesses.
Eliminating Natural Plant Pesticides Via The Carnivore Diet
Shortly after I started the carnivore diet, I experienced numerous health improvements that you can read about here, here, here, and here. Let's face it, I don't believe that plant consumption will lead to cancer. Indeed, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is associated with lower cancer rates. But I also don't believe that all plant toxins are benign.
In the distant past, the seasonality of plants kept our exposure to natural plant pesticides low. In the Pleistocene (ice age), we had even lower exposure to natural plant pesticides because plants were scarce. Many researchers, including Miki Ben-Dor believe we ate a carnivorous diet for most of our evolution. But today, we consume much more plant matter than before due to the extinction of large animals like mammoths. For more information, see this post.
Today, we can eat out-of-season plants year-round, a new phenomenon. So is it possible some of us react more strongly to the chemical defenses of plants? If my experience counts, the answer is yes.
Is it possible that animal-based foods offer superior nutrition? Absolutely. We are made of animal stuff. When we eat animal-based foods, we are likely to consume the nutrients we need in the proportions we need. Additionally, many nutrients in plants are unavailable for absorption, whereas most animal-based foods are easily absorbed and assimilated. Which do you think has more building blocks for human health and nutrition-a ribeye, or kale?
Conclusion
Eat as many unprocessed plants as you would like. They will not give you cancer. Include unprocessed animal-based foods as well. You may have heard that red meat causes cancer. One study equated red meat with cigarettes, which is absurd. For a good debunking of the red meat-cancer study, click here. However, if you suffer from chronic ailments, consider that it could be a reaction to plant toxins. Gluten is a plant toxin that many people can't tolerate. There are many others. The carnivore diet, if nothing else, is a strict elimination diet for plant-based sensitivities. If you feel better, chances are some plant-based food was the culprit. By reintroducing plant foods slowly, you can determine which ones cause reactions. I have tried this approach. I may be a bit unique, but I have determined that I do best on a primarily meat-based diet. But I believe most of us will thrive on a whole foods diet devoid of processed carbohydrates and vegetable oils, including animal and plant-based foods.