Top 10 Produce You Should Buy Organic
Ideally, everyone would be eating the freshest and safest foods possible–Everyone would be eating 100% organically, however, budgets are tight and a great deal of people simply cannot afford to purchase a great deal of organic foods. That’s completely understandable, I can’t afford to eat all organically, but it is important to make sure you’re purchasing some organic foods, mainly produce.
Produce, as many may know, contains a great deal of pesticides if not grown organically and more than 80% of the most common pesticides are potentially carcinogenic, meaning that they contain an agent directly involved in the promotion of cancer or in the increase of its propagation. Scary, right? I know! Luckily, the Environmental Working Group has put together a downloadable wallet guide containing the worst and best produce, in terms of pesticide levels.
For your immediate attention, here is a list of the top 10 produce you should most definitely be buying organic, every time.
1. Peaches – pesticide load: 100
2. Apples – pesticide load: 96
3. Bell Peppers – pesticide load: 86
4. Celery – pesticide load: 85
5. Nectarines – pesticide load: 84
6. Strawberries – pesticide load: 83
7. Cherries – pesticide load: 75
8. Lettuce – pesticide load: 69
9. Grapes (imported) – pesticide load: 68
10. Pears – pesticide load: 65
But can’t you just wash or peel your produce to get rid of pesticides?
While you may think that washing or peeling your produce can effectively remove pesticides from your food, the truth is that while these tactics may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
Carla on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 5:44 pm
I keep this list with me in my purse whenever I shop at a place that isn’t all organic (our farmers markets and a few indie health food stores are) to make sure I’m not buying the “dirtiest” produce. Thanks for the reminder!
Melissa on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 10:44 pm
I had a list similar to this one a few years ago that I would keep in my purse to have it on hand. Thanks for this list!
Green Tip on Thu, 6th Nov 2008 1:29 pm
I also heard that potatoes are full of herbicides and pesticides because they soak it all up while growing in the ground. A good rule of thumb that I try to stick by is to go organic on anything that grows in or close to the ground. Thanks for sharing the list!
Webtools on Thu, 13th Nov 2008 3:41 pm
We know the organic food is how much healthy, but daily taking food having this many pesticide l oads? I can’t believe this. Thank you friend for this posting,
I have to share this article to all my friends….
Bob Riley on Thu, 18th Dec 2008 7:38 am
Guys as long as Monsanto walks freely you’ll see less and less organic crops. That monster company is backed by none other than top politicians because they’re being lobbied every year with millions. They’re now trying to take over seed distribution which leaves no choice to farmers. They program seeds so that they self destruct and cannot be reused for the next crop. The only way to stop is educate ourselves and try to support organic farmers. I’m currently compiling data about direct link of cancer and GMO crops.
Green & Organic on Wed, 4th Feb 2009 10:37 pm
Great article, green and organic foods are good for you, but standard grown food are not that bad, not at least all of them.
Natalia on Wed, 22nd Apr 2009 3:29 pm
Good point.Besides, organic apples and peaches taste sooo much better. I just don’t feel comfortable eating apples which can last up to a year in my refrigerator. I am not surprised to see these pesticide level numbers. Yuck!
Organic Foods on Wed, 13th May 2009 8:52 am
Oh my! That statistics should get one thinking. I quite agree with you that the cost of going 100% organic is quite high. But like you suggested, anyone that is serious about maintaining good health should consider a safe mix in the short term while planning on fully organic in the long term. Thanks for sharing.
Sharon on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 8:01 pm
Really enjoyed this post and couldn’t agree with you any more! It is disgusting how many pesticides are used on our produce and how much we are shielded from the details of how our food is grown and where it was grown (in major grocery stores).
I just wrote an article about pesticide usage on our produce that I think you might find interesting: http://www.shar-on-nutrition.com/?p=508
Would love to know what you think. Feel free to leave a comment!