The ‘Dirty Dozen’ and the ‘Clean 15’ of Produce

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Conventional farming procedures have provided larger yields of produce per harvest, but at what cost? These larger plants have been shown to be nutrient poor and laden with pesticide residues. The suffix “cide” means “to kill”. This is very unfortunate for the health conscious shopper who specifically chooses to buy fruits and vegetables to improve their diet. Instead, they are unfortunately and unknowingly, poisoning themselves.

 

Luckily, organic farming is gaining momentum and the cost of these products is beginning to decrease due to competitive pricing. This following lists are intended for you to use as an aid when deciding which produce to choose organic, and which produce is safe to consume from conventional farming methods.

 
The ingestion of pesticides has been associated with many dangerous health conditions with symptoms that may include: headache, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, restlessness, nervousness, perspiration, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of weight, thirst, moodiness, soreness in joints, skin irritation, eye irritation, and irritation of the nose and throat.

The ‘Dirty Dozen’ and the ‘Clean 15’ of Produce

The Dirty Dozen
This list is most likely to contain high concentrations of pesticides. Soak these in one part Apple Cider Vinegar and 9 parts filtered water for 5 minutes before consuming or simply buy organic.

• Apple
• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Celery
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Sweet bell peppers
• Nectarines
• Cucumbers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Snap peas
• Potatoes

The Clean 15
This list is least likely to contain pesticide residues. You may not need to spend extra time or money to buy these organic or wash them in ACV.

• Avocados
• Sweet corn
• Pineapples
• Cabbage
• Frozen sweet peas
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Mangoes
• Papayas
• Kiwis
• Eggplant
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe
• Cauliflower
• Sweet potatoes

This information is presented according to scientific research reported by the Environmental Working Group. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php


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Healthy Lifestyle Modifications

InstaHealthyThe modern American medical system has become the leading cause of death and injury in the United States. From medical errors to adverse drug reactions to unnecessary procedures, heart disease, cancer deaths and infant mortality, statistics from the most respected medical and scientific journals and investigative reports by the Institutes of Medicine demonstrate that American medicine causes more harm than good.

The American health care system is focused on treating diseases processes after they have already begun, not preventing them. The system currently recognizes “prevention” as screening for pathology. At this point, the affliction has already developed.

Please do not wait for our healthcare system to change. This is going to take many years. Take control of your health today with changes and emphasis on healthful living, exercise, proper nutrition, supplementation, mindfulness, prayer and meditation. My favorite part about striving to be healthy is that we can ALWAYS do better, in one way or another. If you have run out of ideas or inspiration to strive for better health, consider some of these options:

HealthyLifestyleModificationsChart

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