I will start with a definition of what organic is so that we are all on the same page. Organic produce is grown without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Organic products never use genetic engineering or irradiation.
Overall, I believe that organic produce is a healthy choice. If you can afford to buy organic produce, do so, because research has shown that people who work with pesticides have higher rates of cancers and other conditions than those who don’t. So there definitely could be a correlation between preventing certain health concerns and eating organic produce that is grown without the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), some produce harbors more chemical residues than others, and so those would be the things that it would make the most sense to spend the extra money on and buy organic. Recently, the EWG released a new 2011 list of “The Dirty Dozen” (the produce that retains more chemical residues) and “The Clean 15″ (produce that retains very little, if any, chemical residues). I have listed these for you below. You can download EWG’s shopping guide to take with you, too .
- The Dirty Dozen (best to buy organic): apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines (imported), grapes (imported), sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries (domestic), lettuce, and kale/collard greens.
- The Clean 15 (lowest in pesticides): onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, asparagus, and sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, cantaloupe (domestic), kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grape fruit, and mushrooms.
So what happens if you can’t afford to buy organic produce or do not have access to it? Should you just avoid eating fruits and vegetables? Absolutely not!! The most important thing to remember is that studies show that people who eat more fruits and vegetables (whether they are organic or not) still have a lower risk of heart disease and cancers than those who do not eat fruits and vegetables. So above all, remember to get at least 5 a day!