Last week the EWG (Environmental Working Group) published it’s 2018 Dirty Dozen list. According to the working group’s tests, the 12 fruits and veggies on the list below contain the highest amount of pesticides.
WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
While opting out of “organic” may save you a few buckaroos, when it comes to the dirty dozen you might want to rethink the thrifty approach. Going for organic versions of the listed 12 will help you avoid toxic chemicals. Pesticides have been known to pose health risks worth noting. For instance, they have been linked to cancer, hormone disturbance and brain damage. I also just read about a study that took place at the Harvard School of Public Health which connected fertility problems to the consumption of high pesticide foods.
DIRTY DOZEN
1. Strawberries (The EWG found TWENTY TWO different pesticide residues in a sample of these berries!)
2. Spinach
3. Nectarines
4. Apples
5. Grapes
6. Peaches
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Tomatoes
10. Celery
11. Potatoes
12. Sweet Bell Pepper
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Overall, fruits and vegetables that have an outer peel (which you do not eat) will have much fewer pesticides than those with edible skin or no skin at all. The outer layer creates a barrier between the potentially toxic soil and the part of the produce that we consume. Keep this in mind when you are opting in or out of splurging on organic. This being said, I wanted to as well include the “Clean Fifteen” list. These fruits and veggies have the least amount of pesticide residue.
CLEAN 15
1. Avocados
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbages
5. Onions
6. Sweet peas (frozen)
7. Papayas
8. Asparagus
9. Mangoes
10. Eggplants
11. Honeydew melons
12. Kiwis
13. Cantaloupes
14. Cauliflower
15. Broccoli
GET FIT WITH KATE 