Organic is better right? Especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables. But along with the title organic comes a higher price tag and it may not always be possible to buy strictly organic.
But Dr Andrew Weil has done the research come up with a list of 19 foods that you don’t have to buy organic.
These are:
- Broccoli
- Aubergine
- Cabbage
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Asparagus
- Sweet peas
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Sweet corn
- Avocado
- Onion
- Papayas
- Cauliflower
- Honeydew Melon
- Mushrooms
- Watermelon
- Sweet Potato
- Grapefruit
This means that the foods above are less likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues. And if it comes down to being able to eat a wider range of fruits and vegetables because the cost is lower then that certainly a plus point for everyone.
You can also get more information by googling and checking out the annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation that identifies fruits and vegetables with the highest and lowest pesticide residues.
But on the flip side, there are some fruits and vegetables that you really should buy organic because they are more likely to absorb the pesticides and leave trace residues which then make their way inside your body.
These are known as the “Dirty Dozen” and include:
- Peaches
- Apples
- Capsicums
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Lettuce
- Grapes
- Pears
- Spinach
- Potatoes
But it’s not just avoiding pesticides that should be your reason for buying organic food. The food is often fresher and tastes better plus it can help protect our eco-systems. And better eco-systems mean a better planet for all.
The bottom line is that if you can afford to buy organic produce when to try to do that where you can, and it’s not just fruits and vegetables that fall into this category; meat, dairy and grains also. But it’s worth remembering that if you can’t afford to add something organic into your basket, don’t let that deter you from picking up that fruit or veggie because the nutritional benefits are still there and the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants provided from produce are essential.