Safe Fruits & Vegetables

Cabbage

Cabbage doesn't require much in the way of spraying to grow it, so it doesn't contain as many pesticides.

Look for cabbage heads with tight leaves (the exception is savoy; its leaves are loose and crinkly naturally), and the head is heavy and firm. The outer leaves should be shiny and crisp and avoid leaves that show signs of yellowing.

Discard the outer leaves before use and store in your refrigerator crisper.

Organic Tomatoes

Our last choice to always buy organic? The tomato.

It's delicate, easily punctured skin is no match for the average 30 different pesticides used in its conventional growth, all of which will eventually permeate the whole fruit.

If you can't find organic, opt for green peas, broccoli and asparagus.

Organic Grapes

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.

Organic Lettuce

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 Brussels sprouts.

Organic Strawberries

Make sure the berries you're buying are organic; the average conventionally farmed strawberry receives a dose of up to 500 pounds of pesticides per acre. Buying these sweet berries out of season also means that they're most likely imported from other countries with less stringent regulations.

If you can't find organic, some safer alternatives are blueberries, kiwi and pineapples.

Organic Celery

Celery is one vegetable to stay away from unless it’s grown organic. The stalks have no protective layer of skin. That means it's virtually impossible to wash off the twenty-nine different chemicals used to grow this veggie.

If you're unable to find organic, some safer alternatives are broccoli, radishes and onions.

Going Organic

From harmful preservatives with untold heath dangers, to hormones pumped into cows to grow them bigger and better, the health risks can be down every aisle of the supermarket.

The Healthy Living Blog is starting a series of posts to get you eating the way your body was meant to: naturally, healthfully and organic.