ANYTIME is a great time for fresh fruits and vegetables! There are a number of foods that you may want to consider buying organic due to the pesticides used and residue that remains. The term ORGANIC refers to the farming system used. It is free from synthetic pesticides, man- made fertilizers, and livestock feed additives. Studies have been done which indicate possible health risks with the use of pesticides including hormone disruption, skin, eye, and lung irritation, cancer, blood and nerve disorders and birth defects, just to name a few.
The DIRTY DOZEN are a list of foods that contain the highest levels of pesticide residue. Organic food may not always be accessible or cost effective, but even decreasing your risk by purchasing the organic version of 1-2 of the below mentioned foods can help reduce your exposure risk and improve the amount of good nutrients your body can receive.
1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Nectarines
4. Grapes
5. Peaches
6. Cherries
7. Pears
8. Tomatoes
9. Celery
10. Potatoes
11. Peaches
12. Sweet bell peppers