"Dirty Dozen" Strikes Again

Apples, strawberries, grapes. You might think this is the start of a healthy shopping list to glean fresh antioxidants but you’d be wrong. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit advocacy agency, released its top 12 “dirty dozen” foods for the ninth successive year and these fruits take the top three spots for pesticide residue. 

The other 9 making the list in order of contamination are celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, imported nectarines, cukes, potatoes, cherry tomatoes and hot peppers. For more information and a free copy of their guide, go to the EWG website (expired link removed).  Pesticide exposure has been linked to caners in children, hormonal imbalances and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

Before you decide to skip the produce aisles, there is good news – a clean list of 15 that include pineapple, asparagus kiwi and sweet potato to offer a healthier option in your quest to get your daily quota of veggies and fruits. Or opt to shop organic. According to numerous studies, organics are packed with more nutrients than conventional produce, too, making them worth the extra price tag and putting into your shopping cart.

Not everyone is near an organic marketplace. Always wash your produce before eating and consider Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). ALA helps the liver, your detoxifying organ do its job by offering antioxidant power. Read more in ALA, Defending Your Liver.

 TyH Publications (M. Squires). For informational purpose only.