To Go Organic Or Not

There are many reasons to eat organic fruits and vegetables, most importantly the lack of pesticide residue on or in your food. But organic is more expensive, although costs have dropped significantly in the past 10 years. The farming methods are different for organic crops, and the use of other plants or insects to keep plants healthy is just more expensive. If the cost were the same, I believe everyone would buy organic, but since it's not, here are some ideas. Buy organic foods from the Dirty Dozen list below. These are the fruits and veggies that take in the most pesticide residue from big corporate farms that spray everything. If you're going to buy organic, these are the things you should buy: The Dirty Dozen apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, kale and collard greens. Get the picture? Anything with a thin skin or no skin at all is going to absorb the toxic spray. Strawberries are one of the worst, because their texture allows for a high absorbtion of spray. The difference in organic and non organic can be seen in appearance also. Because they are not filled with toxins which prevent insects from eating them, most organics are smaller, not as perfectly shaped, but just as flavorful. Keep the above list in mind next time you consider what to buy. The clean 15, on the other hand, do not need to be organic. They have thick skins, and even if they are sprayed with pesticides, the skin protects them, thus protecting you. There is very little reason to buy organic produce from the following list: The Clean 15 onions, sweet corn, pineapple, avocado, asparagus, sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, cantaloupe, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, mushrooms. A few curious items on each list, which I will research at another time. Why are regular potatoes on the "no no" list, and sweet potatoes aren't? Why are asparagus on the ok list? They don't have much of a skin. Mushrooms are grown indoors under conditions that don't make pesticides necessary. If cost is an issue for you as it is for me and most everyone today, pick and choose what you buy organic. You certainly don't need to buy organic watermelon or bananas, but spinach and apples, maybe so.