Avoid Toxic Produce

The web site onearth.org did a very interesting article on chemicals and pesticides used to treat produce. Many of the chemicals penetrate deep into the fruits and vegetables, meaning that despite all your efforts of washing produce before you eat it, you are still going to get a healthy dose of bad stuff. You can reduce your intake of these chemicals by up to 80% if you buy organic. The following is a list of organic produce you should buy to cut your chemical intake:

• Apples
• Bell peppers
• Blueberries
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cherries
• Collard greens/kale
• Imported Grapes
• Lettuce
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Strawberries 

On the other hand, some conventionally grown produce items have very low pesticide levels, making them a more acceptable choice. These varieties include:

• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Cabbage
• Domestic canteloupe
• Eggplant
• Grapefruit
• Honeydew melons
• Kiwi
• Mangoes
• Onions
• Pineapples
• Sweet corn
• Sweet peas
• Watermelon