By now, we should all be aware of the dangers of pesticide to our health and the environment. But I will remind you anyway for good keeping.
Per the World Health Organization(W.H.O) pesticides are also potentially toxic to humans. They may induce adverse health effects including cancer, effects on reproduction, immune or nervous systems.
Nearly 75 percent of non-organic fresh produce sold in the U.S. contains residues of potentially harmful pesticides. So it’s safe to say that we should all try and stay away from food that’s been sprayed with pesticides. This is when we choose to buy organic.
Mainstream media sources often downplay the positive benefits of organic food, but the truth is that organic is almost always the best choice. Recent lab tests show that organic food typically contains no synthetic pesticides; in other words, far less synthetic pesticides than conventional foods.
Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases its popular Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists.
These lists help consumers make informed choices about which foods have more or less pesticides when grown “conventionally.”
It is important to note that EWG’s analysis of the testing data from directly from the Department of Agriculture and FDA. The 2023 guide includes data from 46,569 samples of 46 fruits and vegetables.
The USDA peels or scrubs and washes produce before testing, whereas the FDA only removes dirt before testing. Even after these steps, the tests still find traces 251 different pesticides.
These lists are a great place to start when it comes to making smart food purchases.
The top five foods to avoid buying conventionally in the year 2023 are as follows, according to the Group’s latest list.
The Top Five Pesticide Soaked Fruits and Vegetables in 2023
1. Strawberries- Topping the list as they have often in recent years are strawberries, which may seem healthy at first glance but can actually be loaded with synthetic, toxic pesticides according to the EWG’s research.
Organic strawberries are expensive but well worth the investment. Buy them in season and freeze to save big money.
2. Spinach- Spinach is packed full of health benefits, but non-organic varieties consistently place in the Dirty Dozen among all vegetables each year.
More than 90 percent of samples tested positive for two or more pesticides according to the 2022 list.
3. Kale, Collard and Mustard Greens- Beginning in 2019, the USDA began finding residues of a highly toxic pesticide called DCPA, known under the brand name Dacthal, in this popular dark leafy green.
The EPA classifies this pesticide, just one of many potentially found on kale, as a possible human carcinogen. This little known but highly toxic pesticide was banned by the European Union in 2009.
Kale typically contains the residues of nearly 20 different synthetic pesticides.
Since organic kale is so cheap, it’s well worth the extra money in 2022 if you want to avoid synthetic pesticides.
Organic mustard and collard greens are worth the extra money as well according to the 2022 list.
4. Nectarines- Similar to peaches with their soft, round shape and orange color, nectarines soak up pesticides easily, making it important to always buy them organic or at the very least to limit consumption.
This year’s tests found more than 90 percent of all nectarine samples contained residues from two or more different pesticides, much like spinach, cherries and other vegetables and fruits.
5. Pears- 63% of pear samples tested had residues of five or more pesticides. 57 pesticides were found on pear samples. The average amount of pesticide residues has more than doubled since 2010, from 0.6 parts per million, or ppm, to 1.3 ppm, in 2021.
Most pears tested were grown in the U.S., not imported.
About 75 percent of the samples had four or more pesticide residues. This is troubling because there is very little research on the health effects of ingesting multiple pesticides.
How Can You Remove Pesticides From Your Body Now & Moving Forward?
A great idea to combat the ingestion of pesticides from the past or present is to get a bottle of activated charcoal capsules from Shizandu Organics, which is on sale right now for just 20 bucks. You can get a bottle of this on sale by clicking here.
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Activated charcoal helps to remove pesticides from your body, and if you eat out at a restaurant it’s good to get a second bottle to keep in your car at all times to remediate any pesticides or petroleum derived chemicals on food that you may have consumed while eating out, which is very likely. It’s a cheap solution to pull these toxins out of your body. Click here to get activated charcoal capsules on sale right now!
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Final Thoughts: Pesticides are a big problem when it comes to these fruits and vegetables.
If you have any questions or concerns, consult the 2023 Dirty Dozen list, and always buy organic when in doubt.
Thanks for reading, and happy shopping!
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