If you can’t afford to buy everything organic, you can go organic for just those foods that contain higher amounts of pesticide residue. Over time, this will greatly reduce your exposure to potentially dangerous toxins.
Beef, chicken, and pork. The EPA says meat contains higher levels of pesticides than produce. This makes sense because the animal eats food contaminated with pesticides and these chemicals accumulate in the animal. Choose lower fat cuts of meat as pesticides tend to be stored in the fat. Try to eat less meat rather than more meat in general.
Dairy and Eggs. Conventional dairy and egg producers are more likely to use antibiotics and growth hormones. And, since these are animal products they would also accumulate more pesticides than produce.
Certain produce. The Environmental Working group (http://www.foodnews.org/index.php) has compiled a list ranking fruits and vegetables based on their pesticide content, after washing and peeling.
These fruits and vegetables contain the HIGHEST amounts of pesticides: Peaches, apples, Bell Peppers, celery, potatoes, nectarines, Strawberries, cherries, pears, imported Grapes, spinach, and lettuce. It would be healthier to buy the organic version of these fruits and vegetables.
These conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contain the lowest amounts of pesticides: onion, avocado, Sweet Corn, pineapple, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, Broccoli, and Papaya. If your budget doesn’t allow you to buy all organic, you don’t have to feel guilty about these conventional fruits and vegetables.
If you eat an apple everyday, you would be wise to choose organically grown apples. By switching to organic, you will reduce your pesticide exposure from conventionally grown apples by 365 times! Now think about that over a ten year period, and so on.
Megan Witt, RD, LD
References:
Environmental Working Group http://www.foodnews.org/index.php
Organic Consumers Association www.organicconsumers.org
