If there’s one thing I’ve become very aware of, it’s that most of the fruits and vegetables we eat are covered in pesticides. Did you know that?
Pesticides are used on everything from our tomatoes to lettuces to apples and peaches and grains too. They are used to control the amount of weeds that grow and help control insects from damaging the crops. However, these same pesticides do affect our health and well-being. Pesticides are linked to everything from cancer and obesity, to hormone health (think fertility ladies!!) and brain development... and more! (http://www.whatsonmyfood.org)
We try to be so good to our bodies, fill it with real, natural, whole foods yet because of pesticide use we actually end up compromising our health.
Pesticides are used on everything from our tomatoes to lettuces to apples and peaches and grains too. They are used to control the amount of weeds that grow and help control insects from damaging the crops. However, these same pesticides do affect our health and well-being. Pesticides are linked to everything from cancer and obesity, to hormone health (think fertility ladies!!) and brain development... and more! (http://www.whatsonmyfood.org)
We try to be so good to our bodies, fill it with real, natural, whole foods yet because of pesticide use we actually end up compromising our health.
What is the point in eating bowlfuls of fruit or filling our plate sides with brightly coloured veggies if it’s all running rampant with chemicals that are physically harming us and our children?
No doubt eating organic can be very expensive. That is why I follow a list published by the Environmental Working Group: the Dirty Dozen. Instead of buying everything organic which could potentially double my grocery bill, I refer to the DD list. The DD list lists types of produce in descending order from highest pesticide use to lesser so (but still sure to contain pesticides!). Here it is:
The Dirty Dozen (in descending order from worst to still pretty bad)
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Sweet Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10.Grapes
11. Carrot
12. Pear
Personally, I tend to also include most fruits or veggies where I eat the skin. That said, I rarely buy bananas or avocados organic since it has a thick skin that I do not eat anyways. It does not necessarily mean they are free from pesticides but it's where I choose to draw the line for now. For more information, go to http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
Know what you and your family are eating. Educate yourself and others. Make some changes.
Enjoy the journey... S
The Dirty Dozen (in descending order from worst to still pretty bad)
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Sweet Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10.Grapes
11. Carrot
12. Pear
Personally, I tend to also include most fruits or veggies where I eat the skin. That said, I rarely buy bananas or avocados organic since it has a thick skin that I do not eat anyways. It does not necessarily mean they are free from pesticides but it's where I choose to draw the line for now. For more information, go to http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
Know what you and your family are eating. Educate yourself and others. Make some changes.
Enjoy the journey... S
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