Organic – it’s all the rage. Demand for organic products is growing, but is it really healthier than buying non-organic? The cost of buying organic is significantly higher – is the price really worth it?
YES!
Here’s why: studies show that organic foods have higher nutrients and are lower in pesticides compared to conventionally grown foods. Eating organic foods is safer, too! Fruits and veggies labeled organic are grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Livestock raised on organic farms aren’t fed antibiotics or growth hormones and we know how important that is – do we honestly want our bodies (or our children’s bodies) inundated with antibiotics we don’t need? It’s bad enough when we have to take them for an infection or that pesky winter bronchitis!
And lets not forget how organic farming is simply better for our environment! By focusing on proven methods of conservation and using far fewer pollutants, organic farming is more sustainable.
But does everything we buy have to be organic? Not entirely, but it’s good to know our options. Below is a list of foods known as the Dirty Dozen, followed by the Clean Fifteen. The former consists of foods that – sadly enough – are known to contain more pesticide contamination. With these fruits and veggies, buy organic whenever possible.
Here are the Dirty Dozen:
1. Celery
2. Apples
3. Cucumbers
4. Grapes
5. Cherry tomatoes
6. Peppers (hot and sweet Bell Peppers)
7. Cucumbers
8. Peaches
9. Spinach
10. Strawberries
11. Potatoes
12. Collard Greens/Kale
The Clean Fifteen are fruits and veggies that you can buy conventionally because they’re treated with lower levels of pesticides:
1. Asparagus
2. Avocado
3. Onions
4. Sweet corn
5. Pineapple
6. Mango
7. Cabbage
8. Cantaloupe
9. Eggplant
10. Grapefruit
11. Sweet peas
12. Sweet potatoes
13. Kiwi
14. Watermelon
15. Papaya
So next time you are at the grocery store, use the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen to make informed choices! Happy Shopping! And let me know how you’re doing, I’d love to hear from you.