by miraclesinprogress

Created on: October 06, 2008   Last Updated: October 14, 2008

The foods that we should buy in organic form are the ones that we need to substitute because they are, in normal growth conditions, found to be the most pesticide-laden. Our diet is one area where we are able to take full control regarding the amount of pesticides we ingest or assimilate.

Given that fruits and vegetables contain so many vitamins and antioxidants, it makes sense to buy them in their purest form, especially when they are such nutritional powerhouses. When we can eliminate anything that interferes with their medicinal abilities, it behooves us to do so in order to be able to absorb their nutrients in the purest form.

Some foods found to contain higher levels of pesticides than others (in no particular order) are: Peppers, cherries, spinach, celery, strawberries, apples, green beans, grapes, nectarines, pears, carrots and cucumber. While citrus foods typically escape the list, you will undoubtedly find that when you eat organic citrus fruits (as opposed to nonorganic) there is an immense difference in the quality of fruit. The organic oranges and grapefruit are often sweeter, larger, juicier, and richer in flavour; all of these combine to make the experience more palatable while still reducing your consumption of toxins.

While some people feel the purchasing of organic produce is not be necessary (because we can remove the residues by peeling apples, for example), more and more people are discovering the taste benefits, as well as the nutritional benefits, of organic produce. Rather than peel fruits and vegetables to remove unhealthy residue, it is far more efficacious to acquire all their health benefits by consuming the entire fruit or vegetable, particularly when so many of the benefits are found in the peels, or directly under the peels.

While we hear more about fruits and vegetables that make the list of less healthful foods, we do not always hear about the importance of consuming organic dairy products. It is also important to purchase organic milk, butter, and dairy whenever possible, particularly as more people seem to be having trouble with milk and dairy sensitivities. While organic milk and dairy are not always seen in the marketplace to the extent that organic fruits and vegetables are, one reason it is imperative to try and purchase these products is that the animals have been raised in health promoting conditions. Also, the animals are grain fed and they are normally free from hormones and antibiotics. If animals are given antibiotics and hormones, they will be collected and concentrated in their fat tissues. As consumers, we will be eating these when we purchase the nonorganic byproducts.

To strategize economically when purchasing fruits and vegetables, here is the list of the fruits and vegetables "likely to have the fewest pesticide residues" (according to the Environmental Working Group): Papaya, broccoli, cabbage, bananas, kiwi, frozen peas, asparagus, mango, pineapple, frozen corn, avocado, and onions.

SOURCES:

http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2007/01/26/pestici des_the_12_most_tainted_foods.php

http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/update-2005-05-24 /pesticides-in-food.htm

http://www.theorganicreport.com/pages/636_why_buy_or ganic_dairy_products_.cfm

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/how-to-ea t-organic-foods-on-a-budget?page=2

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