Foods You Should Always Buy Organic
Buying organic foods is nothing new to anyone at this point in the game. We are all exposed to the choice of whether or not to purchase organic. While buying organic is a great choice, it is most definitely not affordable for everyone. There are a few items to buy organic versus non organic for many different reasons. You do not have to purchase your entire grocery cart with organic, but don't bypass these items! You can still stick with your grocery budget, and buy these few items organic. Your long term health will thank you!
The name "Dirty Dozen" applies to many of these foods. Below the dirties, I will update you on the clean items too!
Apples,Berries & Grapes
All apples need to be purchased organic, as they are the dirtiest produce item you can buy. 99% of the apples tested contained pesticides. As for berries & grapes, this especially includes strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries! These items are already expensive without being organically handled, but why not get the most nutrition and leave the pesticides alone? Berries can contain a certain pesticide called "Captan" which is a carcinogen that causes tumors in rats. It is very dangerous, and it is used on berries. PLEASE WASH/PEEL if you do not want to buy organic.
Tomatoes
That is if you do not grow them in your garden (double bonus!). Tomatoes are one of the dirtiest food items to purchase, and they have found over 70 different pesticides on the skin of a cherry tomato! Even if you do buy organic or grow your own give the skin a little scrub!
Potatoes
Also one of the dirtiest produce items you can purchase, it is important to buy this one organic too. Most non-organic potatoes contain more pesticides per weight than any other item in the grocery store.
Celery
Think celery is just full of zero calories? Think again. This light produce item is loaded with pesticides when not purchased organic. Many different carcinogens have been found, and that is just plain scary. If you are not familiar with what a carcinogen is, it is a substance or chemical compound that is known to cause cancer.
Spinach
Frozen or fresh. If you are buying non organic spinach it is home to at least 60 different pesticides that contain hidden carcinogens. Growing your own is a plus, or just get it organic and breath easy knowing you are not polluting your body.
Fattier Meats
Meat is expensive in general, so I don't expect you to go 100% organic and purchase your dairy and meat from the organic section. Lean meats do not contain many hormones, or pesticides but pesticides do live in fat! Be mindful when you are choosing your cuts.
*Up for discussion: I know a family who owns a dairy farm in Arizona, and they were telling us about the wretched organic dairy farms near them. The cows were sickly, dirty, and the farms just plain stunk worse than a farm should smell. There was puss coming from the cows utters, as may of them looked sick. The family never buys their dairy organic, but everyone might have a different farm they buy from!
The Clean Items In The Produce Section
These items are always clean, and you do not have to be as "cautious" when looking to buy organic or not.
Onions
Avocado
Asparagus
Kiwi
Eggplant
Cantaloupe (domestic)
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Mushrooms
Frozen sweet peas
Happy Shopping!
xoxo Lauren Nicole
