When you shop for food it can be hard to know why to eat organic, or how to eat organic on a budget. When it comes to organic versus conventionally grown produce there is a difference but, while healthy food is important, there are still ways to save money while eating healthy food. The first step is to know what organic food you should shop for and what conventionally grown produce is fine to eat. Here's a list of 12 fruits and veggies called the dirty dozen - the foods chock full of pesticides so it's best to buy organic.
- Spinach - even frozen
- Sweet Bell Peppers
*note: Even locally grown cherries are not necessarily safe. Cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries. Government testing has found 42 different pesticides on cherries.
Why do pesticides matter? Pesticides are serious business, they're chock full of carcinogens, neurotoxins, hormonal disruptions and more. If you or someone in your family has taken a lot of antibiotics, you will be especially prone to these toxins, as will your family if you have a history of family members with cancer.
Disclaimer: as the granddaughter of a wonderful farmer, I am NOT saying that farmers use pesticides intentionally to harm us and I am not saying that no good has come of the bug-preventing, disease cleansing chemicals we benefit from.
However, they can be very dangerous if ingested especially in the air but in our food and water as well.
Early exposure to an especially toxic class of pesticides called "organophosphate pesticides" or OP's, has been linked to poor memory, learning deficits, and lower IQ when the children are school-aged.
Another reason pesticides are so harmful is that it is virtually impossible to contain the area where pesticides enter the food chain. This means that pesticides often contaminate our water supply. According to Ecological Problems,
98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than just targeted pests. This destination does not only include different animal and plant species but also water and air often resulting in huge pesticide contamination.
Several studies show a link between pesticide exposure and neurological conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and the onset of Parkinson’s disease. The Science Daily reports on a UCLA study that found,
Years of exposure to the combination of these two pesticides [the herbicide paraquat and fungicide maneb] increased the risk of Parkinson’s by 75 percent.
Although some sources claim that no conclusive evidence has been reached, it is far better to be safe than sorry.
But what should you do if you just can't afford to buy organic? Here's the good news: you can still clean most of the dirty dozen by using these all natural cleaners. Yes, it does take more effort and time but it's a great way to stretch your nutritional dollar.
Produce Wash Hard Skinned (Source here)
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- Tub/sink full of water
- Salt 3 tsp (optional)
Stir until salt is dissolved. Pour into sink full of water. Soak produce for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse in cool water and pat dry.
Product Spray Recipe (Source here)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 cup water
Spray produce; allow produce to sit for two to five minutes. Scrub, rinse and pat dry.
Sources for dirty dozen: