Are you familiar with the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 list of foods? Or does that sound foreign?
These are lists of foods the Environmental Working Group annually distributes advising consumers which foods have the most pesticides on them and which have the lowest amount. The Dirty Dozen are composed of twelve fruits and vegetables (including strawberries, spinach, and apples) that have more pesticides and are safer to eat organically grown. The Clean 15 are fifteen crops (including foods like avocados, pineapples, and onions) having less pesticides so they are safe to eat if conventionally grown.
What’s the benefit?
*Some people who have autoimmune issues or chronic health issues may experience side effects from chemicals including pesticides. So you may want to avoid the foods having higher incidences of them.
*GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, is a hot topic today in food production. If a food is listed as organic, it was not grown with GMO seeds nor were any GMO ingredients used in the processing.
*No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are allowed in organic food.
*Some studies indicate organic food contains more vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients than conventionally grown foods.
*Because organic foods are usually more expensive, you’ll be aware which foods are safer to eat organic vs. conventional allowing you to save money rather than buying everything organic.
Hope that information helps you to make an informed decision. If you can’t afford organic, that’s okay. I always tell clients it’s better to eat a conventionally grown apple than a candy bar any day : ) But it’s useful to learn about the nutrient density and cleanliness of foods we eat. If you want to see the lists of these foods, here’s a link to the EWG’s site: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/ Scroll down and you can click on each current list.
