To Buy Organic or Not, That is the Question

I found this great article on www.healthnews.ediets.com. It is always good to know where we should spend our organic dollars. I think I will print this out and keep it in my purse for easy reference while shopping. 

Buy Organic or Bust
Attention health-conscious shoppers! According to the EWC (and eDiets Director of Nutrition Pamela Ofstein) the following fruits and veggies top the charts when it comes to residual pesticide. So put your hands where we can see them, slowly step away from the shelf and proceed with haste to the nearest organic aisle:

• Apples
• Bell peppers
• Blueberries
• Celery
• Cherries
• Grapes (imported)
• Kale
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Strawberries

Pears and raspberries are also major culprits, according to Pam.
Why do these produce picks pack such a pesticide punch? It depends on the fruit or veggie in question. Peaches and nectarines, for example, tend to requite greater amounts of pesticide for conventional growth. Bell peppers, on the other hand, have super thin, permeable skins, which are no match for potentially harmful insecticides. And strawberries may be imported from a country with less stringent pesticide regulations.
“It may also pay to go organic when it comes to baby food, dairy, eggs, meat and poultry,” says Pam.
“Seafood is left out of this list as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not set standards for organic seafood. Currently wild and farmed seafood can be labeled organic even if they contain contaminants (mercury and PCBs),” warns Pam.

Optionally Organic:
If you have a little leeway in your grocery budget, Pam recommends buying organic versions of the following fruits and veggies:

• Apricots
• Cabbage
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Grapefruit
• Grapes (domestic)
• Green beans
• Honeydew melon
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Oranges
• Plums
• Sweet potatoes
• Tangerines
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon

Although they aren’t ranked as high as the dirty dozen, these popular produce picks still contain some residual chemicals. This means that a conventionally grown apricot is a better bet than a conventionally grown apple, but it, too, contains contaminants.
Can’t afford the entire list (and perhaps you don’t care for cabbage anyway!)? Go organic with just a few of your faves.
Going Organic Not Necessary
According to Pam, there is little need to go organic when it comes to the following fruits and veggies:

• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn
• Kiwi
• Papaya
• Peas
• Pineapple

“These are the least commonly contaminated fruits and vegetables,” she says.
It’s also unnecessary to purchase organic foods that are packaged or highly processed, such as cereal, chips and pasta because they’re just as safe and sport the same nutrient values as their non-organic counterparts.
The Bottom Line
You should always wash produce before you eat it. However, this safety measure reduces but does not eliminate chemical residue on fruits and veggies. Small amounts of those pesky pesticides and other stubborn contaminants will always linger. Peeling is another option, but when you rid a fruit or vegetable of its skin, you’re eliminating many valuable nutrients, too.
The battle between organic and non-organic foods rages on, but in the end, the choice is a personal one, according to Pam.
“Since the market has skyrocketed with the availability of organic foods, be sure you are really getting what you are paying for. Whether you choose organic or the conventional method is a personal choice. There are advantages to both sides, but make sure your decision is an informed one. Know where the product comes from and pay attention to the product label – information is the key,” she says.