Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Cathy
- Poor Diet
- Infections (bacteria, parasites, viruses, and yeast overgrowth)
- Environmental toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, etc.)
- Chronic stress
- Hormones (adrenaline, cortisol, etc.)
The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) new “2017 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce” is out. Each year they release a handy shoppers guide to pesticides in fruits and vegetables called the Dirty Dozen list and the Clean Fifteen list.
The Dirty Dozen list shows which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides even after washing them. The Clean Fifteen list shows produce with the fewest pesticides. For the second year, strawberries top the list for the most pesticide residues, followed by spinach.
The produce is listed from worst to best (the most pesticides to the fewest), based on the USDA testing of produce sold in the U.S. They even have a printable you can keep in your wallet for your convenience.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is caused by chronic inflammation that affects the brain and spinal cord. Researchers have discovered an unbalance of good and bad bacteria in the guts of MS patients.
Further studies are currently underway that will determine which bacteria is needed to restore a healthy balance. This knowledge may lead to new MS treatments such as probiotics and prebiotics.
In the meantime, removing the chronic inflammation and getting the bacteria back to a healthy level is a great place to start getting MS into remission. There are different triggers to MS, you will need to find your triggers and remove them.
Triggers to MS:
- Poor Diet
- Infections (bacteria, parasites, viruses, and yeast overgrowth)
- Environmental toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, etc.)
- Chronic stress
- Hormones (adrenaline, cortisol, etc.)
Diet
Start eating a nutrient-dense diet and remove processed foods, gluten, dairy, legumes, and additives. Also, including probiotics and prebiotic foods and supplements will help your gut. You will have to read all labels to avoid ingredients that cause harm to your body.
Some foods have hidden toxins that you won’t find on a label. The produce department where you find those ‘healthy’ fruits and vegetables is one such department. What I’m talking about are pesticides.
Pesticides
Have you ever bit into a beautiful looking strawberry, just to discover it has no taste. That strawberry has been sprayed with pesticides then picked before it was ripe. That allows the fruit to ripen during shipping from miles away.
By the time it gets to your store it has lost most of its flavor and nutrients. You can’t see or smell pesticides, that’s when you rely on the organic department. Your best option to purchase locally grown organic produce, check your grocery store, health food stores, or farmers market.
But what if you can’t afford organic or organic isn’t available in your area? No worries, that’s where the EWG is working hard to help you identify which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides.
Strawberries, Spinach, and Pears
Strawberries have the most pesticide residues than any other fruit or vegetable. Up to 21 different pesticides from one sample! The farmers also use poisonous gasses to sterilize their fields, killing every bug and weed in the soil.
Americans eat nearly eight pounds of fresh strawberries a year including multiple pesticides. These pesticides have been linked to cancer, reproductive damage, and neurological problems. It’s best to always buy organic strawberries.
Spinach contains 16 different pesticides, DDT was found on most of the spinach samples. DDT was banned in the United States in the 1970’s followed by a worldwide ban. This was due to its environmental threats, particularly toward birds. DDT was a major factor towards the near extinction of the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon.
Pears are new to the dirty dozen list. More than 20 pesticides were found on pears that were sampled. The pesticides that were found have been linked to cancer and reproductive damage. A couple of these pesticides are the probable cause of the devastating deaths of honeybees.
EWG’s Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen list includes fruits and vegetables with the most amounts of pesticides:
Strawberries
Spinach
Nectarines
Apples
Peaches
Pears
Cherries
Grapes
Celery
Tomatoes
Sweet Bell Peppers
Potatoes
EWG’s Clean Fifteen
The Clean Fifteen list includes fruits and vegetables with the fewest amounts of pesticides:
Sweet corn*
Avocados
Pineapples
Cabbage
Onions
Frozen Sweet Peas
Papayas*
Asparagus
Mangos
Eggplant
Honeydew
Kiwi
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Grapefruit
*Some sweet corn and papayas sold in the United States are GMOs, purchase organic to avoid GMOs.
Conclusion
If these fruits and vegetables are so toxic that bugs won’t eat them, then we shouldn’t be eating them either. Washing and cooking help reduce the pesticide levels but it does not eliminate them. If possible avoid the fruits and vegetables on the dirty dozen list when options are not available or affordable.
Eating organic tastes much better than conventional produce. However, to save money on organic, try growing a garden. Strawberries and spinach are extremely easy to grow and rewarding.
If you liked this article you may also like How to Save on Organic Produce
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