Hey loves, Welcome Home
Have you ever heard of "The dirty dozen"? The “Dirty Dozen” is a list put together every year by the Environmental Working Group. It shows the 12 fresh fruits and vegetables, when purchased non-organically (sampled over the course of multiple studies), that have the highest traces of pesticides. They even go further and test the results presented (public knowledge btw) by the Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration.
Children and other sensitive populations, such as the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, have been shown to be the most effected by the pesticides present. Eating organic produce can significantly decrease the amount of pesticides we consume in our diet overall.
Now you KNOW I’m all about making it work and meeting you where you are SO, let’s say you can’t afford organic everything at the moment. There are options!!! First, you can try just purchasing the dirty dozen items organically. Second, you can purchase a fruit/veggie wash (Trader Joe’s has one that has been proven to remove some pesticides and chemicals). Next, you can soak your fruit and veggies with baking soda. General rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon per 2 cups of water and soak for 15 minutes, then rinse THOROUGHLY. Lastly, a good scrub with a brush or rubbing/agitation under cool running water can make a difference. Getting the wax off is the goal since the pesticides can get trapped between the fruit and the unnecessary wax layer used to make produce look “pretty”. Please follow all instructions no matter which method you choose and rinse thoroughly!
Here's the list:
Peaches
Pears
Spinach
Kale/collard/mustard greens
Strawberries
Apples
Nectarines
Grapes
Cherries
Blueberries
Green brands
Peppers
Hope this information is helpful to you and remember, don’t be afraid, just be aware! Sending you love and light on your journey.
Natasha