Almost everybody now knows that eating organic food is so much better for you than normally farmed produce. It is better for the environment, healthier, and most importantly tastes a great deal better. The more of our food that the world can produce naturally, without pesticides and other chemicals the better for everyone.
Biting into a juicy, crisp organic apple is far better than the sensation you get when you bite into one that has a waxy coating. It is true that often you have to pay more to enjoy organic food, but there are certain fruits and vegetables that you should opt for when buying organic and some that you should also stay away from, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has given us some pointers.
The Most Heavily Sprayed Crops
When choosing any of the fruits or vegetables from this list always try to insist on organically grown produce as these items are the most heavily sprayed crops.
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Grapes
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Cucumbers
- Nectarines
- Kale
- Spinach
All these items are heavily sprayed in growing traditionally as well as celery, bell peppers, sugar-snap peas, hot peppers, and collards. The Environmental Working Group released data that noted almost all apples and peaches tested positive for at least one chemical, and the humble potato had more chemical pesticides by weight than any other vegetable.
The Cleanest Crops
If the above list indicates crops to be wary do not worry as the following vegetables and fruit are the healthiest produce as they are exposed a lot less to chemical spraying. So if you cannot find organic then you should always opt for the items on this list.
- Pineapples
- Avocados
- Mangos
- Sweet Corn
- Grapefruit
- Cabbage
- Onions
- Kiwi
- Cauliflower
- Asparagus
Other more healthily grown produce include, sweet-peas, papayas, eggplant, cantaloupe, and sweet potatoes. Avocados came top of the list as far as clean foods were concerned, with an amazing 1% testing positive for traces of chemicals. High percentages of cleanliness were also noted particularly in kiwis, pineapples, mangos, and cantaloupe.
Not one of the fruits or vegetables on our clean list contained more than four traces of any pesticides which is far lower than the former dirty list. The most susceptible crops to pesticides are greens, as they are commonly sprayed when being grown. So always buy organic greens if you have the option.
So, while you should always endeavor to buy organic foods when you have the chance, our lists will highlight the best and worst on the shelves of stores. So at least you can buy produce that you know is grown using the least pesticides and chemicals.
It is really important that you know what you are putting in your body, admittedly most modern pesticides contain less harmful chemicals than they once did.
But are you really prepared to take the risk that these new pesticides are totally harm free?
