How many of your fruits and vegetables have toxic chemicals? About 65 percent of the produce samples test positive. Environmental Working Group (EWG) released for the 10th year in a row their list of the most pesticide contaminated produce know as the Dirty Dozen™.
Should you eat from the Dirty Dozen? Definitively eating fruits and vegetables from this list is healthier than processed foods. So yes if you must, it’s ok! Healthier choices and ones I would recommend are: shopping at your local farmer’s market, growing your own vegetable garden and buying organic produce. I think of it as spend a little more now rather than risk a serious health condition and pay thousands on medical bills later.
When your budget doesn’t allow you to buy organic then reduce your risk to pesticide exposure by prepping your non-organic produce prior to consuming:
- Peel fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk on consuming pesticides.
- Wash produce with a non-toxic soap found in most health markets.
How does produce get on the Dirty Dozen list? The EWG says, “Each of these foods contained a number of different pesticide residues and showed high concentrations of pesticides relative to other produce items.”
12 Most Contaminated
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines (imported)
- Grapes
- Sweet bell peppers
- Potatoes
- Cucumbers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Snap peas (imported)
Plus 2 more added to the list:
Kale / Collard greens and hot peppers
“Every sample of imported nectarines and 99 percent of apple samples tested positive for at least one pesticide residue.”
Were you surprised like me that apples are the most contaminated food?
What Is the Clean Fifteen™?
Eat abundantly from the Clean Fifteen list!
“Avocados were the cleanest: only 1 percent of avocado samples showed any detectable pesticides.”
15 Least Contaminated
- Avocado
- Sweet corn
- Pineapples
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Cauliflower
- Papayas
Environmental Working Group
Read more about the EWG and their food news here.
Handy reference guide of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen for you, 2014 EWG pdf Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™.
Source: Environmental Working Group at EWG.org
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I’m a Midwest gal who began on a journey to live a healthier life way back when I was in college. Now just like all of you, the twists and turns of my life have led me to where I am today. Passionate about healthy living, community and social media, I invite you to Live Young with me!
