Foods Organic Only
Organic foods provide a health benefit to consumers by reducing exposure to pesticides.
Toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides have been linked to an array of health concerns including asthma and cancer. Many of these chemicals were registered and approved by the EPA long before there could be extensive research on their long-term effect on human health.
Avoiding processed foods and growing or buying organic food are ways to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals. But certain organic foods may be expensive or hard to find. The Environmental Working Group has reviewed research to determine which fruits and vegetables are most likely to contain pesticide residues.
They found that you can reduce your pesticide exposure by as much as 90 percent by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated foods: They are apples, red raspberries, spinach, cherries, imported grapes nectarines, strawberries, pears, potatoes, bell peppers, celery and peaches. Many of these fruits and vegetables you can grow in this area, or buy from your local organic farmer. And remember food grown close to home tastes better and is more nutritious.
When you support local, organic farmers you are improving the health of the planet as well as the local economy. By caring for the soil and eliminating pesticides from the environment, organic farming helps to assure a more sustainable and healthier future for all living things.