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 Potatoes

America's most popular side dish, the spud, ranks highest for pesticide residue and may also contain fungicides that are added to the soil for growing; that all too paper-thin skin does nothing to protect the vegetable.

If you can't find organic, some safer alternatives are eggplant, cabbage and earthy mushrooms.

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.

Organic Dairy

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.

Organic Meat Continued

While your local market may carry organic meat options, I've found that the health food store is often the best choice. Once you try organic meats, you'll find that seasoning beyond the standard salt and pepper just isn't necessary, the natural flavors of the meat are delicious enough on their own!

Organic Meat

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…

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.