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

ToxicApple

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