Organic food is always superior to conventional food. Scientific studies show that organic fruits and vegetables generally contain less toxic pesticides and herbicides than conventional produce. Eating organic meat and animal products helps you to avoid the effects of consuming foods that have been treated with antibiotics and growth hormones.
If your budget won’t allow you to be 100% organic, you can still substantially lower your exposure to pesticides by avoiding the Dirty Dozen — the twelve fruits and vegetables containing the highest pesticide levels — and opting for organic. These foods should be replaced with the Clean Fifteen — the conventional produce with the lowest pesticide levels. Also, buying organic versions of coffee will greatly improve your health, as coffee is one of the most chemically sprayed crops and these chemicals can disrupt your endocrine system.
The Dirty Dozen
Listed from most pesticides to less pesticides
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines (Imported)
- Grapes (Imported)
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries (USA)
- Lettuce
- Kale
The Clean Fifteen
Listed from cleanest to least clean
- Onions
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Sweet Peas
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe (USA)
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Mushrooms
To learn more about organic foods and their positive affect on your body, or to set up your free fitness consultation with one of our personal trainers, please contact us here or call us directly at 616.259.9064.