Herbs and Helpers ®

Herbal Services and Solutions | Herbalist | Supplier | Herbs

   Jul 20

Why you should only buy organic strawberries

Other chemically-ridden produce includes spinach, nectarines and applesOther chemically-ridden produce includes spinach, nectarines and apples

Yet, only 1% of non-organic avocados and sweetcorn contain pesticide residues

Other ‘clean’ produce includes pineapples, cabbages, onions and cauliflowers

Of 48 types of produce, nearly 70% contain one of 178 synthetic chemicals

Previous research has shown eating organic reduces pesticides in urine samples

Strawberries contain the most pesticides of any fruit or vegetable, new research reveals.

The summer-favorite fruit contains at least 20 synthetic chemicals, a report found.

Other chemically-ridden produce includes spinach, nectarines and apples, the research adds.

Yet, only one percent of non-organic avocados and sweetcorn are contaminated with pesticide residues, the study found.

Other ‘clean’ produce are pineapples, cabbages, onions, frozen peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplants, honeydew melons, kiwis, cantaloupes, cauliflowers and grapefruits, the report adds.

Strawberries contain the most pesticides of any fruit or vegetable, new research reveals

THE ‘DIRTY DOZEN’

According to the Environmental Working Group, the produce with the most pesticide contamination are:

Strawberries
Spinach
Nectarines
Apples
Peaches
Celery
Grapes
Pears
Cherries
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Potatoes

THE ‘CLEAN 15’

The least contaminated are:

Avocados
Sweetcorn
Pineapples
Cabbages
Onions
Frozen peas
Papayas
Asparagus
Mangoes
Eggplants
Honeydew melons
Kiwis
Cantaloupes
Cauliflowers
Grapefruits

How the study was carried out

Researchers from the Environmental Working Group analyzed 48 types of popular non-organically grown fruit and vegetables.

The analysis was based on more than 36,000 samples collected by the The United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

All of the produce was washed prior to examination.

It was also peeled if appropriate.

Other chemically-ridden produce includes spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches and celery

ORGANIC FOOD IS HEALTHIER: VEGETABLES GROWN WITHOUT PESTICIDES HAVE MORE ANTIOXIDANTS

Organic vegetables really are healthier than standard produce, research revealed last month.

Products grown without toxic chemicals, which can cost twice as much, contain higher levels of flavonols, a study found.

Such vegetables have 20 per cent more of the antioxidants, which prevent damage to the body, the research adds.

This comes five years after a major review of more than 200 studies concluded that organic food offers no nutritional benefit.

However, the new Teagasc Food Research Centre’s, Ashtown, investigation is the longest-running study to address the issue.

Key findings

Results revealed that nearly 70 percent of the samples were contaminated with pesticide residues, with 178 different chemicals being identified.

The foods that contain the highest number of pesticides, known as ‘the dirty dozen’, are strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, celery, grapes, pears, cherries, tomatoes, bell peppers and potatoes.

Yet, only one percent of the avocados and sweetcorn analyzed contained pesticides.

Other members of the so-called ‘clean 15’ are pineapples, cabbages, onions, frozen peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplants, honeydew melons, kiwis, cantaloupes, cauliflowers and grapefruits.

None of these ‘clean’ produce contain more than four types of pesticides.

How to avoid pesticides

Previous research by the University of Washington found that people who ‘often or always’ buy organic food have significantly less pesticides in their urine.

Pesticides have been linked to cancer, reduced brain development and behavioral problems in children.

The report authors wrote: ‘Smart shopping choices matter. People who eat organic produce eat fewer pesticides.’

Source: Daily Mail

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.