The EWG’s 2014 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out a list of foods containing the highest amount of pesticide, “the dirty dozen” and those containing the least, “the clean fifteen” to help guide consumer choices. The EWG is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to using the power of information to protect human health and the environment.
These lists help inform shoppers about which vegetables and fruits to prioritize as organic and which they can save a little money on by opting for the conventional variety.
Here are some reasons to consider limiting pesticides in the diet and in skin products:
- They accumulate in our fat cells; major organs such as the liver, kidneys and brain; in our glands such as the thyroid and adrenals; and throughout our central nervous system.
- The liver and kidneys become less efficient at removing them from the body as we age
- The longer pesticides stay in the body, the more likely they are to build up to levels that may cause injury
- Chemicals and pesticides can react in the body in unexpected ways
Read about how pesticide intake may impact children’s IQ here. On a more positive note, research has shown that removing pesticides from the diet decreases pesticides in the body by 98% in two weeks. Informing yourself about the clean fifteen and dirty dozen can help reduce pesticide intake in your family.
