The cleanest and the dirtiest fruits and vegetables

HEALTHY PANDA HealthyPanda.net Dirty Dozen And Clean 15 The dirty dozen and the clean 15 refer respectively to the fruits and vegetables that are the most and least contaminated by pesticide use, according to theEnvironmental Working Group Why do we care? Pesticides are toxic by design! Different pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems, including hormone disruption, cancer toxicity. and brain But for most people, switching to organic produce is a gradual process. Because organic foods tend to be more expensive than their counterparts, making informed choices in the produce aisle helps minimize pesticide consumption while keeping the budget in check! Should you avoid the Dirty dozen? Absolutely not! Fresh fruits and vegetables are always a healthier choice than processed foods. Besides, non-organic processed foods are sure to contain a slew of chemicals too! Instead, let the guide dictate your allocation of organic vs. non-organic purchases. Why do we care? All of this opens up a bigger discussion about the choice to eat organic food - and the reasons that not everyone does. Often, the decision comes down to bottom line. Non-organic foods usually cost less money. But there are other costs -hidden costs -that have to be considered too. These include abstract factors like the cost of demanding more from the earth than it can produce and the long-term health costs associated with ingesting chemicals. There are also ways to offset the increased out-of-pocket expenses incurred by prioritizing organic foods. Committing to cooking whole foods from scratch -alongside careful meal planning, home gardening and food preservation - can largely counteract the cost of organic food purchases. The process is gradual. Change takes time. And all of us have to work within our budgets. Which is where the dirty dozen and the clean 15 come into play. The list is a resource to help you make the best choices for your health and for the earth, whatever your current budget or state of greenness. The Dirty Dozen (in order of contamination) Apples Celery Sweet bell Peaches реppers Nectarines Grapes Spinach Lettuce Blueberries Potatoes Cucumbers Strawberries The Clean 15 (in order of least contamination) Onions Sweet Corn Pineapples Avocado Cabbage Sweet peas Asparagus Mangoes Eggplant Kiwi Cantaloupe Sweet potatoes Grapefruit Watermelon Mushrooms HealthyPanda.net [+