Beware the Dirty Dozen: Are these Top 12 Pesticide-Laced Fruits and Vegetables in Your Grocery Cart?

, May 25, 2010

This topic was recently all over the news and Internet – The Dirty Dozen – the 12 produce items with the highest levels of pesticides, as covered in chapter 7 of Hormone Harmony. The topic of environmental toxins, especially those found in the foods we eat and feed to our children, is one of the most popular topics people want to talk to me about. I have done several media appearances on this very subject. So what is The Dirty Dozen and what can you do to avoid consuming the pesticides in these otherwise healthy foods? Well, I’ll tell you…

The Dirty Dozen includes peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, lettuce, spinach, potatoes and imported grapes. Now, in my opinion, buying organic fruits and vegetables is always ideal because not only do they have more flavor, they are pesticide-free and are more nutrient-rich. However, I know it isn’t always feasible or affordable to buy organic 100 percent of the time. That is why I suggest to people to set priorities and start with just purchasing organic varieties of the dirty dozen.

Don’t think it is a big deal? Well, studies have shown that when organic foods replace conventional ones in the diets of children, levels of key pesticides in their blood drop to nearly undetectable levels after only five days.1  That’s pretty powerful.

One other tip: If you can’t find organic varieties in your store, try filling your sink with water and a little dishwashing liquid, wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and rinse them really well. This can be a very effective way to remove the pesticides from the peel of fruits and vegetables, which is often packed with vital nutrients.

1 Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children’s Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides, Lu, et al. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 2, February 2006.

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