Lower your pesticide exposure

Excerpts from a 6/3/09 article written by Heather Van Nest on 10Connects.com, St. Petersburg, Florida

You can lower your exposure to pesticides by cutting down on the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, according to a consumer advocacy group.

The Environmental Working Group analyzed 87,000 United States Department of Agriculture tests from 2000 to 2007 to see which produce had the highest and lowest pesticide levels.

EWG says eating the "dirty dozen" will expose you to about 10 pesticides a day. EWG suggests buying these fruits & veggies organic.

Here are the "dirty dozen":
-Peach, Apple, Bell Pepper, Celery, Nectarine, Strawberries, Cherries, Kale, Lettuce, Imported Grapes, Carrot, Pear.

You can read the full report by clicking here.

EWG also put together the "Clean 15."

Check out the fruits and veggies that tend to have the lowest pesticide levels when grown conventionally.

EWG says if you're pinching pennies and you're worried about pesticide intake you can skip the organic versions of these fruits and veggies.

Here are the "clean 15":
-Onion, Avocado, Sweet Corn, Pineapple, Mango, Sweet Peas, Kiwi, Eggplant, Papaya, Watermelon, Asparagus, Cabbage, Broccoli, Tomato, Sweet Potato.