After doing quite a bit of research yesterday for the Raw Foods and Hormones post, I have officially changed my thinking…  The research is overwhelmingly in favor of organics– and the harm that pesticides do to our systems is shocking.

• Obesity, Parkinson’s, cancer, even death are common results of long term ingestion of produce grown with pesticides.

• Children have been proven to be even more susceptible to the toxins than adults… and for longer…

• Some of the pesticides used on our food will never be able to leave your body.
  

I was under the false assumption that if you washed you fruits and veggies really well you would be fine…  Not so.   The U.S. Department of Agriculture found that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much high levels of pesticide residues.

The good news is that we can avoid 90 percent of the pesticide exposure by only eating the 12 most contaminated foods if they’re organic!  You are reading that right!  Those top 12 contaminated foods expose you to over 20 different pesticides!   While the 12 least contaminated foods only exposes you to about 2.

So– while organics cost 50 percent more on average – consider this… What is your liver worth to you??  The only feasible alternative to buying the dirty dozen organic would be to grow them yourself… now there’s an idea!

12 Most Contaminated – Buy These Organic
• Apples
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Cherries
• Imported Grapes
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Red Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries

12 Least Contaminated
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn (sweet)
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Onions
• Papaya
• Pineapples
• Peas (sweet)

Check out their site to download and print the handy wallet guide.

Random side note about chemicals:  Grrr… bad news about flip-flops, too!

Next week’s series will be about the Five Love Languages.  Tune in Monday!