5 “Dirtiest” foods
In order to grow enough crops to survive, many farmers resort to chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to protect the food they grow. Although this leads to bigger yields, it also has its downsides. Many of these chemicals are linked to cancer, endocrine disruptors, and other serious problems.
If you can’t afford to go entirely organic, here are 5 to focus on.
Strawberries
As many as 22 pesticides have been found still clinging to a single strawberry sample. While this was the highest number found, 99% of all strawberry crops have some pesticide residue, and at least 1/3rd of all crops have some residue on them.
Spinach
97% of all spinach crops have some pesticide residue on them, and usually has twice as many pesticides per weight as other items tested. This is concerning, as one of the pesticides found is banned in Europe and is known to cause child behavioral disorders.
Nectarines
These delicious fruit are amazing to eat, but that fuzzy texture is also very good at holding in pesticides. Peaches are also on the dirty dozen list for the same problems with its texture. According to the 2012 EGW report, nectarines landed the most pesticides per pound of weight than any other fruit.
Apples
Apples used to be number one on the dirty dozen list, but are steadily moving down the list. They are now in 4th place on the list, and that’s great news—but they still often have quite a few pesticides on them. When ever possible, buy these organic to reduce how many pesticides you’re eating.
Grapes
Grapes bounce around on the dirty dozen list, with as much as 97% contaminated with pesticides. They can also be much lower, at one point dropping to #7 on the list. If you’re not sure, it’s better to get these organic rather than risk a large amount of pesticides.
Crops on the dirty dozen list are there because they have exponentially more pesticides on them compared to other foods. If you can’t afford to go fully organic, you can still make your diet much cleaner by only getting organic produce for the dirtiest fruits and vegetables.
Some fruits and vegetables are fairly clean, even when grown conventionally. Sweet corn, avocados, and cabbage for example, usually have minimal pesticides on them by the time they get to you. Simply washing ‘clean’ foods carefully will usually be enough to minimize your contact or ingestion of pesticides.
By going organic for products that you know will contain a lot of pesticides, and choosing conventional for foods that are likely to be cleaner, you can strike a balance between healthier eating and price point. It’s also good to remember that whether conventionally grown or organically grown, a minimally processed fruit or vegetable will always be better for you than a highly processed food.
If you can’t eat organic at all, going fresh will still benefit your body and help you to stay healthier than if you were eating a highly processed diet.