Grocery shopping is one of my favorite past-times. It may seem a bit strange to some but true retail therapy for me is hitting up the aisles of Whole Foods Market for some of my favorite consumables. I was grocery shopping with my mother today and as we carefully selected our fruits and veggies we discussed the “dirty dozen” and the “clean 15.”
What is the Dirty Dozen?
The dirty dozen is a group of 12 vegetables and fruits which have been identified as the most contaminated with pesticide residues. It is suggested to consume these foods from an organic source.
- Peaches
- Apples
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Pears
- Grapes (Imported)
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Potatoes
The Clean 15 are the least contaminated with pesticide residues and do not have to be eaten from an organic source.
- Onions
- Avocado
- Sweet Corn (Frozen)
- Pineapples
- Mango
- Asparagus
- Sweet Peas (Frozen)
- Kiwi Fruit
- Bananas
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Papaya
- Tomato
- Sweet potato
- Watermelon
Why do I believe this is important?
According to the Environmental Working Group, new research demonstrates that doses of pesticides which were once declared “safe” by government agencies are actually toxic to humans and the environment. In animal studies, pesticides have been shown to have deleterious effects on the ecosystem and on the human body by disrupting hormones, damaging to the nervous system and having carcinogenic (cancer causing) and reproductive effects. Pesticides are designed to kill living organisms such as insects, fungi and plants. There is no reason to think that as humans we aren’t being negatively affected by these toxins.
What can we do about it?
(1) Minimize your child’s exposure. Research has shown that children are especially at risk. Children do not detoxify these chemicals as effectively as adults do. These chemicals can have an even greater impact on their developing organs, reproductive and nervous systems.
(2) Be a Locavore: Eating local is a sustainability movement where people chose to consume foods from the local economy (think farmers markets, back-yard or roof-top gardens). Eating local means that your fruits and vegetables are more likely to be vine-ripened. This means produce that is higher in nutrient value and better tasting. There are fewer pesticides used during production and harvesting and a reduction in greenhouse gases during transport.
(3) Purchase the foods on the clean 15 list: You can actually lower your pesticide exposure by 90% if you do this.
(4) Buy certified organic produce when possible.
(5) Get more information by checking out the Environmental Working Group’s website – http://www.ewg.org. There’s even an IPhone app.
Happy shopping! Leave comments or questions below.
Nice!