Remember to limit your intake of fruits and juices with high fructose content.
Organic food can cost more than the conventionally grown alternative, but the payoff of great taste and good health should more than make up for it and reduce your overall health care costs in the future. Also, remember to limit your intake of fruits and juices with high fructose content.
Apples — The FDA states that more pesticides are found on apples than on any other fruit or vegetable — a grand total of 36. One test found seven chemicals on a single apple — a good reason to switch to pesticide-free, organic produce. If you eat apples or any other fruit, use them sparingly and never consume them in the form of fruit juice, which is basically a glass of fructose.
Baby foods — An infant’s immune system is less developed than an adult’s and is more vulnerable. Non-organic baby foods tend to use fruits and vegetables that have been treated with chemicals.
Butter and milk — Dairy cows eat grains that are heavily treated with chemicals, which show up in their milk. Non-organic milk can also contain bovine growth hormone and antibiotics. However, raw milk is nearly always better than organic milk if it is purchased from a conscientious farmer. In that case, it may not be certified organic, but it will essentially be organic anyway.
Cantaloupe — Cantaloupes often are contaminated by five of the longest-lasting chemicals. Dieldrin, a very toxic and carcinogenic insecticide, gets taken up through the cantaloupe’s roots, even though it was banned in 1974.
Cucumbers — Cucumbers rank 12th for the most contaminated food and the second in cancer risk due to pesticide content.
Grapes — Grapes are treated with numerous chemicals, especially Chilean grapes, which can be sprayed with as many as 17. Grapes, whether organic or not, are especially high in fructose.
Green beans — More than 60 pesticides are registered for use on green beans in the U.S.
Spinach — The chemicals used to treat spinach may cause cancer or interfere with hormone production.
Strawberries — Strawberries are among the most contaminated of all produce. And once again, be wary of the high fructose levels.
Winter squash — Winter squash, like cantaloupe, can absorb Dieldrin from the soil.
Sources: Real Simple, November 2010 and www.mercola.com.
Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 29, Number 6, Dec 2010/Jan 2011.
February 25, 2012
Food, Fruits and Vegetables