#Organic Produce. Do you know the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15?

There is a groundswell towards buying pretty well everything organic.  Organic veggies.  Organic fruit.  Organic clothing.  Organic mattresses. 

But is it really necessary?  For instance, apparently some fruit and veggies are more prone to carry pesticide residue than others.

Richard Burr, co-owner at First Choice Fitness gym in Winnipeg, gave me some great information on the topic, from "need to know" on PBS, by Jackie Pou.


Here's Your "Dirty Dozen" list....when conventionally grown, this list tested positive for at least 47 different chemicals, with some testing positive for as many as 67.  Definitely go organic with these:

celery.....peaches....strawberries....apples....domestic blueberries....nectarines....sweet bell peppers....spinach, kale and collard greens....cherries....potatoes....imported grapes....lettuce.

Why are some types of produce more prone to sucking up pesticides than others?  Richard Wiles, senior vice president of policy for the Environmental Working Groups says, according to the article, "If you eat something like a pineapple or sweet corn, they have a protection defense because of the outer layer of skin.  Not the same for strawberries and berries."

The "Clean 15" bore little to no traces of pesticides and are safe to consumer in non-organic form.

onions....avocados....sweet corn....pineapples....mango....sweet peas....asparagus....kiwi fruit....cabbage....eggplant....cantaloupe....watermelon....grapefruit....sweet potatoes....sweet onions

So, if you just wash all your fruit and vegetables, organic or not, will you eliminate all the chemicals?

The President's Cancer Panel recommends washing conventionally grown product to remove residues.  Wiles adds, "You should do what you can do, but the idea you are going to wash pesticides off is a fantasy.  But you should still wash it because you will reduce pesticide exposure."

Obviously, we should be taking great care of what we buy and how we look after it.  The Healthy Home book by Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz, covers other important food choices in Chapter Seven "For the Love of Food".

Contact us for a copy of The Healthy Home book
Dave and Deanna Waters
 204-237-8250
Dedicated to Healthy Homes, Bodies and Bank Accounts