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On my quest to go organic, I’ve come across some good pointers so that I won’t freak out about the cost or availability of getting everything organic.

Here are a few rules if you are interested in switching to organic food:

Foods that should always be organic:

Almonds – because many toxic pesticides and herbicides are used on almond trees.
Apples – multiple pesticides are used on apples.
Basil – leafy greens that grow close to tht ground tend to have higher pesticide residues than other vegetables.
Beef – if you cannot by organic, grass-fed beef, stick to leaner cuts since pesticide residue is stored in fat.
Butter – since pesticides are stored in fat.
Carrots – carrots are so good at absorbing heavy metals from soil that they are sometimes grown as a throwaway crop to rid a field of lead or arsenic!
Celery – also absorbs everything from the soil
Cheese – since it is mostly fat
Cherries – they are sprayed 8-10 times during the growth cycle
Chicken – there is arsenic found in non-organic chicken
Cucumbers – highly toxic organophosphate pesticides are used on regular cucumbers
Eggs –
Grapes (imported) – imported grapes are fumigated with methyl bromide, a highly toxic and dangerous ozone-depleting chemical
Green Beans – sprayed multiple times with pesticides, herbicides and fungicides
Lemons -the peel is where most pesticide residue is concentrated
Lettuce – leafy greens that grow close to tht ground tend to have higher pesticide residues than other vegetables
Limes – see lemons
Milk – organic milk doesn’t contain hormones or antibiotics
Nectarines – like most stone fruits, they are highly likely to contain multiple pesticide residues
Oatmeal – if you eat it every day or often get organic
Oranges – see lemons and limes
Peaches – one of the fruits most likely to contain multiple pesticide residues
Peanuts – grow underground and ar known to absorb toxins from the soil
Peanut Butter – see peanuts
Pears – highly likely to contain multiple pesticide residues
Pecans – pecan trees are often sprayed frequently with pesticides, herbicides and miticides
Plums – stone fruit, see nectarines
Potatoes – always buy organic, especially russets, are highly likely to contain multiple pesticide residues
Raspberries – highly likely to contain multiple pesticide residues
Rice – buy organic or imported…american grown rice contains 1.4 to 5 times more arsenic on average than rice from Europe, India or Bangladesh
Salad Greens – grow close to the ground and are sprayed often
Spinach – see salad greens
Strawberries – contain HIGH levels of pesticides!
Yogurt – see other dairy

So, this list is kind of long, but think of all the things that aren’t listed… broccoli, asparagus, avacados, bananas, beans, bell peppers, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe (as long as it’s not imported), cashews, cauliflower, chocolate, sweet corn, eggplant, garlic, ginger, grapefruit, green onions, leeks, macadamia nuts, mandarine oranges, mangoes, onions, papayas, pineapple, radishes, raisins (domestic), sweet potatoes, tangerines, tea, and watermelons! These things are safe to buy conventionally.

I know it seems like a pain to get organic produce since it’s a little more expensive, but I personally think it’s worth it in the long run not to be consuming so many chemicals. Think of how many illnesses are ravaging people these days – everything from different kinds of cancers and autism to the more benign things like allergies, heartburn, asthma, and reflux. Maybe these chemicals are playing a role.

How’s that for some food for thought!?!