Every bite you take, every meal you enjoy, exposes you to a world of synthetic chemicals. The relentless progress of the food industry has introduced over 75,000 of these chemicals into our lives. They lurk in the food we consume, affecting us in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
Guard Your Health: Knowledge About Pesticides and Your Food
These chemicals enter your body through various avenues – your skin, nose, mouth, lungs, and eyes. We can’t avoid them entirely, and when we can’t eliminate them, they nestle into our fat cells, accumulating over time, and eventually taking a toll on our health.
What’s alarming is the lack of knowledge about the consequences of many of these chemicals and pesticides commonly used in everyday products. Exposure to combinations of pesticides has been linked to severe issues such as brain or nervous system damage, cancer, immune system disruption, and endocrine function irregularities.
So, what’s on the list of common fruits and vegetables laced with the most pesticides? Brace yourself:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Chilies
But don’t worry, we’ve got a brighter side too. Some fruits and vegetables are far cleaner, with few, if any, detectable pesticides:
- Avocado
- Pineapple
- Sweetcorn
- Frozen peas
- Onions
- Papaya
- Eggplants
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cantaloupes
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
It’s wise to consider buying organic for certain items give them a thorough wash, or even peel them when possible. But remember, the most vulnerable to these pesticides and chemicals are the ones we hold dear: children under 12, as their detox organs, the liver and kidneys, are still developing.
You can make healthier choices for you and your loved ones now that you’re informed.
Reference
The Environmental Working Group. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php