Top Ten Contaminated Foods… Choose Organic

Most foods labeled as organic are just a food producer’s way of charging way too much for way too little. I was shopping with a friend last week and she spend $1.50 for a cucumber… not for a few cucumbers but just one. Now I try to by organic when I can, but only when it counts. And when there is a tough skinned normal cucumber beside it for $0.50 then that one just doesn’t count. Cucumbers have strong skin and when peeled and washed their pesticide and added chemical levels are low.

But that’s not the case for all fruits and vegges and sometimes I do agree that spending a few extra bucks on the organic sticker is better. These are the Ten Most Contaminated Foods that if given the choice should be organic for your kitchen.

Top Ten Contaminated Foods:

Laced with Hormones, Pesticides and Other Chemicals You Don’t Want To Eat

1. Meat. Chicken thighs, beef fat and pork fats are the highest in chemicals and bad for you contaminants. I am a big believer that if foods are being pumped with hormones to get bigger they probably don’t have good long term affects. If possible look for meats that are hormone-free and organic.
2. Milk. There are 12 pesticides commonly seen in milk. Since it’s such a common stable in American’s diets this is why organic is recommended. Organic dairy farmers can’t use pesticide laden grains or feed for the cows… and no antibiotics.
3. Celery. Celery has no protective skin so it is impossible to wash off chemicals. This year it was actually ranked number 1 for dirtiest food.
4. Peaches. Peaches are the second most contaminated food.
5. Apples. I am crazy about buying organic apples. Even washed and peels can’t remove all the pesticides used to kill of pest and bugs. Plus peeling the fruit removes lots of beneficial nutrients.
6. Strawberries. Out of season berries are most likely from countries with less stringent pesticide regulations that even America, making it a good idea to opt for organic.
7. Blueberries. This is sad, it used to not be on the list but now as many as 52 pesticides are found in blueberries.
8. Bell Peppers. The thin skins don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides and insecticides, and organic is a much better option.
9. Spinach. One of the best leafy greens for you, it’s also laced with up to 48 different pesticides which makes it one of the most contaminated leafy greens of the bunch.
10. Cherries. Cherries are packed with antioxidants and nutrients but US grown cherries have three times the amount of pesticide residue than imported ones. And of course imported cherries lose nutrients the longer the trip they have to make.

Other high contaminated foods: Kale, potatoes, nectarines, carrots, leafy greens, pears and tomatoes.

Here’s a fun fact; by eating organic with only the top 15 contaminated fruits and veggies will cut your levels of the chemicals by 80%.