Beware of the Dirty Dozen!

Fruits and vegetables are associated with health and natural goodness. According to the Environmental Working Group however, some of the most commonly consumed fruits and vegetables are foods with the most pesticide residue! Pesticides are used during the cultivation and growth of fruits and vegetables to prevent weeds, pests and diseases from attacking the crop. Based on its research findings, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has stated that some natural foods retain their pesticide residue even after being washed. The best action to take against this pesticide threat is to take note of the fruits and vegetables known as the ‘dirty dozen’ and highlight them as the top foods to buy organic next time you go grocery shopping!

Top Foods to Buy Organic!

Buying the following food items in their organic form will keep you and your family healthy and fit!

Apples

Commercially grown apples are cultivated with 36 varieties of pesticides. According to the Environmental Working Group, the pesticide residue in the tested sample of apples is exceptionally high, with 91% of the apples testing positive for pesticide traces. Even peeling the apple does not completely eliminate the pesticide residue from the fruit. It is best to buy juicy, pesticide free organic apples which also feature a sweeter taste than commercially farmed apples!

Cherries

Cherries are another one of the foods with the most pesticides, and are thus in Environmental Working Group’s list of the top foods to buy organic! 91% of the tested samples of cherries were found to contain traces of 25 different types of pesticides.

Imported Grapes

Imported grapes which are commercially produced in their home countries can contain up to 35 different variants of pesticides. This residue cannot be eliminated because of the thin, permeable skin of this juicy fruit. The Environmental Working Group suggests purchasing domestically produced grapes or having locally produced grape based products such as grape jams.

Nectarines

Nectarines are a succulent fruit with a rich flavor. According to the Environmental Working Group, relishing conventionally produced nectarines may not be such a good idea since almost all of the tested nectarines were found to contain strong traces of 26 pesticide varieties.

Peaches

Peach orchards are sprayed with up to 45 various pesticides to keep the crop safe from pest attacks. This heavy application of pesticides has landed peaches on to the Environmental Working Group’s list of top foods to buy organic. 94% of the tested peach samples were tainted with pesticides.

Pears

Switching to organic pears would be the best option for your health since researchers have identified traces of 35 variants of pesticides in 94% of the conventionally grown pears.

Raspberries

Compared to the aforementioned fruits, inorganic raspberries may still seem like a viable option since 59% of the tested raspberry sample contained traces of 39 pesticides. However, this does not change the fact that the Environmental Working Group believes that this percentage is detrimental enough to your health to have raspberries classified as one of the foods with the most pesticides.

Strawberries

This fact may shock you terribly, but for the sake of your health you should be aware that about 500 pounds of pesticide are sprayed on one acre of strawberry plants. This translates into about 36 types of pesticides and a 90% contamination rate.

Bell Peppers

This delicious vegetable is one of the most pesticide treated food items around. Its thin skin allows the pesticide to seep into the vegetable which means that bell peppers can contain traces of up to 40 different pesticides!

Celery

According to the Environmental Working Group, this crunchy vegetable is heavily contaminated with the 29 pesticides that are sprayed on it during cultivation. The celery does not have a protective outer layer or skin, and thus there is nothing to prevent the pesticides from seeping in.

Potatoes

Potatoes are a widely loved and ever popular vegetable. The Environmental Working Group however, has placed them very high up in its list of the foods with the most pesticides. Conventionally grown potatoes can contain residues from up to 30 different pesticide varieties.

Spinach

According to the Environmental Working Group, the green leaves of this vegetable have been found to contain residues of some of the most potent pesticides which are among the 36 varieties sprayed onto the spinach plant!

Conclusion

Shunning these delicious fruits and vegetables completely will only deprive your body from the nutrients and wholesome goodness that it needs. Simply look out for the organic varieties of these food items to derive the wholesome goodness that theses fruits and vegetables have to offer.

References
Recipes.familyeducation.com
Thedailygreen.com