According to Certified Nutrition Consultant (C.N.C.) Brenda Watson’s book The Detox Strategy, all of the chemicals put in the non organic, processed food at the store build up toxins in a persons body. These toxins, given time, overwhelm the liver and leads to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsonism and autoimmune diseases.

“I used to have a really bad immune system, but after I started eating better I’ve gotten sick less often and feel a lot happier,” senior Megan Swink said. “It makes me feel good and I have more energy.”

Swink and her family started eating whole, organic foods around her freshman year and has continued ever since. Swink and her family realize the importance of not putting the unhealthy chemicals into their bodies.

“Even if everyone knew just how bad most store bought food is for you, I think only some people would change their eating habits,” Swink said. “Others just wouldn’t care about the long term effect and continue what they’re doing.”

Junior Tonie Roberts also began eating organic foods a few years ago. The Roberts family members eat as much whole foods as they can get, depending on the availability of it at the store.

“Mom says that doctors wouldn’t even be necessary if people ate right, and that there’s a natural cure for everything.” Roberts said. “Now that I’m used to organic foods, my stomach can’t handle fast food very well and I feel so much better when I eat something good for me.”

Ms. Watson consults to eat as little processed food as possible, because in the act of being processed the food looses its nutritional value and some of its healthy minerals. Avoiding foods whose ingredients have chemical preservatives in them are important for a person’s health.

“I think people eat the way they do because of ignorance; they don’t know what they’re putting into their bodies, they just eat what they have or where they are because it’s convenient for them,” Roberts said.