If you are looking to make some positive changes in your diet, a great place to start is reducing the pesticides you consume. These pesticides may induce adverse health effects on us including cancer, and effects on the reproduction, immune, or nervous system. Now most of us don’t drink a bottle of pesticides, but we do consume many of these substances if we purchase predominantly commercially grown produce.
The Environmental Working Group provides a couple of annual list to help us make better choices with the produce we eat.
The first list is the Dirty 12. This is a list of the produce with the most pesticides.
2019 Dirty 12
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Nectarine
- Apple
- Grape
- Peach
- Cherry
- Pear
- Tomato
- Celery
- Potato
As you can see, these are some of the most popular produce that we consume. So choosing organic when purchasing fresh, frozen, or canned for these items can be a great investment in your health.
The second list is the Clean 15. This list will include the items that will have the least amount of pesticides. If you are wanting to save a little bit on your food bill, purchasing these fruits and vegetables non organic can be advantageous.
2019 Clean 15
- Avocado
- Sweet Corn*
- Pineapple
- Sweet Peas Frozen
- Onions
- Papayas*
- Kiwis
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cantaloupe
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Honeydew Melon
*A small amount of sweet corn and papayas sold in the United States are produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organics of these if you are trying to avoid genetically modified produce.
These lists can be a great help in making healthy choices on some of the foods we eat. Also, remember that many local farmers may not be certified organic but practice the principals, so purchasing from a CSA or farmer’s market are great options. You not only get great food, you will get the freshest produce that doesn’t have to be shipped completely across the country, and you support local businesses. You not only build your health, but also the health of your community!
If you would like more information about why to purchase organic, check out Is Organic Worth the Money?.
Enjoy your fruits and vegetables, they are powerhouses of nutrients.
Do you use these guides when purchasing your produce?
Be Blessed,
Heather
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