What you need to know
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 percent of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides & 30 percent of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic, or cancer causing. Studies show that pesticides can cause health problems such as:
Birth defects
Nerve damage
Cancer
Blocks absorption of nutrients
Other long-term complications
Pesticides are especially dangerous to children since there are periods during development when exposure to toxins can cause permanent damage to their systems.
Alarmingly, the EPA says, “You and your family have a right to know under the law that in certain cases, such as economic loss to farmers, a pesticide not meeting the safety standard may be authorized.” This means that in “cetain cases” unsafe, unauthorized pesticides can legally be sprayed on your food!
Pesticides are not only problematic on fruits & vegetables, but also in animal products. Factory farm animals eat feed that is loaded with pesticides, & these toxins accumulate in their flesh, so buying organic & naturally raised meat where possible is also a good idea.
Use the following if you can only buy some organic items as you will want to be sure to purchase organic versions of the high-pesticide foods.
Highest in pesticides: (Buy organic)
Apples peaches lettuce
Bell peppers pears strawberries
Celery potatoes Nectarines
Cherries rasberries
Grapes spinach
Lowest in pesticides: the following foods tested the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown. Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume:
Peas Bananas Onions
Brocoli papaya Corn
Cauliflower eggplant pineapple
Avocado mango cabbage
Asparagus kiwi
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