Integrative Health Blog

Were you aware that non-organic fruits such as peaches, strawberries and imported grapes are some of the most contaminated produce you can buy?

After analyzing over 85,000 government tests, the Environmental Working Group dubbed twelve fruits and vegetables the "dirty dozen." So named because they're the most likely to contain pesticide residue, some of the "dirty dozen" can have dozens of different pesticides on them at once.

Of course, organic is your best option when buying produce. But, when you can't go organic, take note of what you're putting into your cart to make sure you're not getting more than you bargained for!

Here is the complete list of "dirty dozen" items that I recommend you purchase only if they're grown organically:

Peaches
Apples
Bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Imported grapes
Carrots
Pears

In addition to naming the Dirty Dozen, the Environmental Working Group identified the "Clean Fifteen". These are the fruits and vegetables that contain the least amount of pesticides even when they're not specifically organic. They are:

Onion
Avocado
Sweet corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Sweet potatoes

This information is updated annually on the Environmental Working Group website. Please check for the most recent Dirty Dozen, Clean Fifteen List.

For more information, see  Nutrition and Wellness  at National Integrated Health Associates, NIHA, a leading integrative medicine and dental center serving the Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia metropolitan area.