Thursday, May 22, 2008
Imported grapes are almost always at a greater risk of contamination than those domestically grown. Vineyards can be sprayed with up to 35 different pesticides and no amount of washing or peeling can eliminate contamination because of the grape's permeable thin skin. Safer alternatives include blueberries, kiwi and raspberries.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Unless you can find organic, avoid those leafy greens all together. Lettuce and its leafy relatives are frequently contaminated with what are considered to be the most potent pesticides on food. If you can't find organic try cabbage, cauliflower and
Monday, May 19, 2008
If you can't find organic, some safer alternatives are blueberries, kiwi and pineapples.
Friday, May 16, 2008
If you're unable to find organic, some safer alternatives are broccoli, radishes and onions.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Bell peppers have a very delicate skin that doesn't offer much of a barrier against the pesticides commonly used. Peppers are actually one of the most heavily sprayed vegetables, often coated with more than 40 pesticides meant to keep them insect-free.
If you can't find organic, some safer alternatives are green peas, broccoli and cabbage.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Scrubbing and peeling the skin of fruit doesn't necessarily eliminate the chemical residue, so it's best to play it safe and buy organic apples.
Organic apples tend to taste much sweeter than those conventionally grown anyway.
If you can't find organic apples, some safer options are watermelons, bananas and tangerines.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Prepare to be astounded: forty-five different pesticides are regularly applied to these delicate-skinned fruits at conventional orchards.
If you can't find organic peaches, avoid them all together and opt for a safer alternative such as watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Unfortunately, most beans are harvested in countries that have no regulations on chemicals or pesticides at all.
Look for the Fair Trade Certified seal on your package or can. This means that not only were the plants grown chemical and pesticide free, but also that fair prices were paid for the end product, helping support both the farm and its workers.
Monday, May 05, 2008
The fat in dairy products is a haven for pesticides, antibiotics and bovine growth hormones. This means that everything commercial farmers give their cows to grow big and produce lots of milk, you too are ingesting. Some studies suggest that the growth hormones in milk are causing teen girls to menstruate earlier and earlier.
Always go organic when it comes to milk, cheese and butter; the cows aren’t given chemicals and growth hormones like rGBH and rbST.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
Unfortunately, chicken, pork and cow feed is grown with the help of pesticides, antibiotics and chemicals. That means that not only is the animal ingesting harmful toxins, but so are you when you eat the meat. While more expensive, it is always the better option to buy organic when possible. Not only is it better for you, but the meat will be much more flavorful.
to be continued…