Is it really that important to eat organic?
Does it really make a difference as far as health and wellness go?
Turns out it is and does.
According to the Environmental Working Group, it makes a huge difference. Pesticides are the known cause of many types of cancers and tumors and infertility issues, not to mention allergies, central nervous system, and digestive issues.
Every year, The U.S. Dept of Agriculture releases the EWG Shopper’s Guide to Pesticide in Produce. At a glance, the key findings from this year’s guide:
- More than one-third of strawberry samples analyzed in 2016 contained 10 or more pesticide residues and breakdown products.
- More than 98 percent of samples of strawberries, peaches, potatoes, nectarines, cherries, and apples tested positive for residue of at least one pesticide.
- Spinach samples had, on average, almost twice as much pesticide residue by weight compared to any other crop.
- Avocados and sweet corn were the cleanest. Less than 1 percent of samples showed any detectable pesticides.
- More than 80 percent of pineapples, papayas, asparagus, onions, and cabbages had no pesticide residues.
- No single fruit sample from the Clean Fifteen tested positive for more than four pesticides.
The USDA tests found an astounding total of 230 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on the thousands of produce samples analyzed. EWG’s analysis of the most recent tests by the Department of Agriculture found that nearly 70 percent of samples of conventionally grown produce were contaminated with pesticide residues. And most consumers don’t realize that pesticide residues are still found on conventionally grown produce even after it’s thoroughly washed or peeled.
Here’s The Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen. Go take a look to see where your favorites fall. You may be surprised as to as to what made each list. The bottom line is this — When you can buy organic, do it. Your body, mind, and health will thank you for it.
Sources
https://www.ewg.org/release/out-now-ewg-s-2018-shopper-s-guide-pesticides-produce
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.php
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php
https://nypost.com/2018/04/30/pesticide-linked-to-cancer-is-in-nearly-every-us-food-report/
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/family_medicine/oem_agmed/Allergypesticides.htm