Yes, You Still Have to Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables!

As the price of fresh produce continue to rise, money often becomes a limiting factor to eating healthy. Organic vegetables and fruits are preferred to reduce your exposure to pesticides, which may disrupt hormone levels in the body. However, the high cost of organic foods is often a deterrent.

Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group helps you make better decisions for your body and your wallet, by providing a list of foods which are safer to eat non-organic, and which foods are better eaten organic.

The “Dirty Dozen”

These foods were found to have the highest pesticide exposure. When possible, purchase the organic options for these foods:

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php

The “Clean 15”

These foods were found to have the lowest pesticide exposure. Save your money and choose the non-organic options for these foods:

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean_fifteen_list.php

One final thought: my patients often ask me whether it is safe to eat vegetables and fruits even if they are not organic, due to the risk of pesticide exposure. My answer is always the same: Remember that the levels of fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in produce outweigh the potential risks of pesticides. So Yes! You still have to eat your fruits & vegetables.

Wishing you good health,

Dr. Odette Bulaong ND