Pesticide Exposure!

There are many reasons to eat organic food. Let's face it though, organic is more expensive. I've always made a pact with myself that I will try to eat as much organic as possible. I started with the 10% rule. This is at least 10% of the items in my house are to be organic. I've since gotten to probably about 75% but that's just me.

Make a similar pact with yourself. Decide how much money you can spend on groceries. Look at what you buy that just sits around or goes bad before you get to it. Stop buying processed junk that you will eat but shouldn't, (if it isn't in the house, you can't eat it). Take this money you save on those items and put it towards good healthy organic foods.

In order to maximize the benefits and minimize the cost you should at least avoid purchasing non-organic produce for the top 12 fruits and vegetables that research has shown to have the most pesticides. If you do just this, it is estimated that you can reduce your pesticide exposure by up to 80%.

This list was compiled through research done by the USDA and FDA and included only the most commonly eaten foods. I don't have statistics for Canada, but it will be similar, and also consider that a lot of your food is coming from the USA and elsewhere. The fruits and vegetables were washed or peeled (as a consumer would use the produce) before testing.

1. (worst) Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries - U.S. Grown
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale and Collard Greens
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes – Imported from outside U.S.
13. Lettuce
14. Blueberries - Imported
15. Carrots
16. Green Beans – U.S. grown
17. Pears
18. Plums - Imported
19. Summer Squash
20. Cucumbers - Imported
21. Green Beans - Imported
22. Hot Peppers
23. Red Raspberries
24. Oranges
25. Grapes – U.S. grown
26. Cantaloupes
27. Cucumbers - U.S. Grown
28. Cauliflower
29. Tomatoes
30. Bananas
31. Broccoli
32. Winter Squash
33. Cranberries
34. Plums - U.S. Grown
35. Honeydew Melon
36. Sweet Potato
37. Grapefruit
38. Watermelon
39. Cantaloupes - U.S. Grown
40. Cabbage
41. Eggplant
42. Kiwi
43. Asparagus
44. Sweet Peas (frozen)
45. Mango
46. Pineapple
47. Sweet Corn (frozen)
48. Avocado
49. Onions (least)

So start small and move up from there. Once you become accustomed to buying organic produce you won't even think about it. Look for the sales and try things you normally wouldn't. Maximize the benefits.