"There is a growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides can significantly affect our health, especially in-utero and throughout early childhood."
Pesticides are inherently toxic substances that are designed to kill living organisms-insects, plants, and fungi that are considered to be “pests”. In humans, pesticides are known to disturb the central nervous system, the reproductive organs, and the endocrine (hormone) system in the body. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize exposure to pesticides.
Although it's important to wash produce thoroughly before eating it, washing may not be enough to remove the chemical and pesticide residues. Your best protection is to choose organic foods whenever possible. Organic foods are not only free from toxic chemicals and genetic modification, but contain 2-5 x more nutrients than conventionally grown foods.
If expense is an issue, at least try to buy organic versions of the most highly contaminated foods. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization that advocates in Washington D.C. for policies to protect global and individual health, we can lower pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent simply by avoiding the top 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables (called the “dirty dozen”).
The Dirty Dozen (buy these organic)
-Peaches
-Apples
-Sweet Bell Peppers
-Celery
-Nectarines
-Strawberries
-Cherries
-Lettuce/Spinach/Kale
-Grapes (Imported)
-Carrots
-Pears
-Potatoes
-Broccoli
-Tomato
-Sweet potato
The Clean 15
-Onion
-Avocado
-Sweet Corn
-Pineapple
-Mango
-Asparagus
-Sweet Peas
-Kiwi
-Cabbage
-Eggplant
-Papaya
-Watermelon
Don't see your favorites? Get the full list at www.foodnews.org
