Should we eat organic?

Pesticides are designed to be toxic in order to kill off living organisms, such as insects, plants and fungi that are considered "pests." Various pesticides are recognized by the government to disrupt the nervous system, to cause cancer, to alter the hormonal system, and adversely affect the eyes, skin, and lungs.

Although the government does have regulations, these regulations are too lax too protect the most vulnerable of us -- our infants and children, as well as developing fetuses.  Companies will argue that the amount of pesticides found in food products are negligible. However, there is insufficient research to prove that these already known toxins are NOT harmful to our infants and children.  Shouldn't we be more careful now rather than pay the price of our children's health later?

So, does it make sense to avoid pesticides?  In short, yes. But you don't have to break the bank to do so. Try to shop from your local farm stand or look for local produce at the grocery store.  First, local produce may have fewer pesticides, if any, as conventional products.  Smaller farms are not always able to afford the cost and time of becoming certified organic.  Second, you may find local produce fresher and therefore packed with more nutrients.   Third, local produce consumes less petroleum which benefits our health from a more global environmental perspective as well.

When possible, avoid buying conventional produce listed in the "Dirty Dozen." According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), by choosing organic for these fruits and veggies, you can reduce most of your pesticide consumption:

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Imported Nectarines
7. Imported Grapes
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Domestic Blueberries
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/ Collard Greens

The "Clean 15" are the least contaminated with pesticides. Choose local, conventional or organic for these fruits and veggies:

1. Onions
2. Corn*  (*Buy non-GMO, See "Food Allergies on the Rise")
3. Pineapples
4. Avocados
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplant
9. Domestic Canteloupe
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushroom

You can visit the EWG site for a handy guide that you can print out or download. You might also want to check out this CNN article on pesticide residue.

Don't fret if all that is available is conventional produce.  Just rinse it off as best you can. It's a good idea to rinse off all produce well as even organic produce can have trace pesticides.