When You Can’t Afford to Buy Organic
We are all familiar with the dangers of pesticides in our foods. Not only are they toxic to us, but many of these chemicals have shown up in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. That means the toxins are being passed on to the child before it even takes a breath. Some people believe that the toxic exposure to the fetus may be one of the reasons for the rampant rise in autism and ADHD.
Pesticide exposure puts us at risk of particular cancers. The pesticides are similar in structure to hormones, especially estrogen; it is therefore linked to breast, prostate, uterus, and ovarian cancers. They are called xenoestrogens and they wreak havoc on the body so they must be avoided as much as possible.
But in these economic times, many people are complaining that they can’t afford organic produce; we are all in the same boat. Hopefully, this list put out by the Environmental Working Group may help you make better choices as to the pesticide exposure to the produce you purchase
Many people think that washing and peeling will help.
When the items in this list were tested it had already been taken into account how people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed before testing, bananas are peeled). While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling may reduce exposure, but it will also remove the valuable nutrients and fiber with the peels. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
How This Guide Was Developed
The produce ranking was developed by analysts at the not for profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) based on the results of nearly 87,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2007. Be sure to visit their sites at www.ewg.org. and www.foodnews.org
Keep in mind that this is only measuring the pesticide exposure. Many foods, like corn and soy are grown from genetically modified seeds that have weed killers placed within the genes of the plant so that the plant can withstand heavy chemical spraying. The weeds will die but not the plants. I avoid these also.
Another thing is that organic produce is grown on nutrient rich soil, not depleted, over-worked soil with chemical fertilizers added, just enough to make the plants grow. These nutrient deficiencies are reflected in the produce. Just one more reason to buy organic if possible.
Be sure to choose from the bottom of the list; for example, conventional onions may not be as bad as conventional apples or peppers. The last 15 items may be the safest to purchase, but if you want the items on the top 15, be sure to spend the money on the organic. It isn’t worth the risk- your health is worth the extra money.
Stay Healthy!
Donna
RANK FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE
1. (worst) Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)
2. Apples 93
3. Sweet Bell Peppers 83
4. Celery 82
5. Nectarines 81
6. Strawberries 80
7. Cherries 73
8. Kale 69
9. Lettuce 67
10. Grapes- Imported 66
11. Carrots 63
12. Pears 63
13. Collard Greens 60
14. Spinach 58
15. Potatoes 56
16. Green Beans 53
17. Summer Squash 53
18. Hot Peppers 51
19. Cucumbers 50
20. Raspberries 46
21. Grapes – Domestic 44
22. Plums 44
23. Oranges 44
24. Cauliflower 39
25. Tangerine 37
26. Mushrooms 36
27. Bananas 34
28. Winter Squash 34
29. Cantaloupe 33
30. Cranberries 33
31. Honeydew Melon 30
32. Grapefruit 29
33. Sweet Potatoes 29
34. Tomatoes 29
35. Broccoli 28
36. Watermelon 26
37. Papaya 20
38. Eggplant 20
39. Cabbage 17
40. Kiwi 13
41. Sweet Peas-Frozen 10
42. Asparagus 10
43. Mango 9
44. Pineapple 7
45. Sweet Corn - Frozen 2
46. Avocado 1
47. (best) Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)