Last Updated on April 29, 2023 by Cathy
The “Dirty Dozen” is a list of fruits and vegetables that have high levels of pesticide residues. The list publishes annually by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Each year the list changes so it’s important to pay attention to which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides. EWG is a nonprofit organization that advocates for environmental and public health issues.
For someone with multiple sclerosis (MS), you may want to consider paying attention to this list. Pesticides cause neurological symptoms and that’s exactly what you are dealing with.
To get your MS to reverse you need to:
- Eat a clean diet
- Kill pathogens such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses
- Remove heavy metals, pesticides, toxic chemicals, and yeast overgrowth
- Lower your stress
Every day I drink a smoothie that includes ingredients that help remove heavy metals. Heavy metals come from sources such as pesticides. You can find the recipe at the bottom of the post.
The Dirty Dozen
Just like the year 2022, strawberries and spinach made the top two on the list for the most pesticides. Celery and tomatoes are no longer in the top twelve. New this year to the dirty dozen list is blueberries and green beans.
When your budget allows you should aim for organic to avoid pesticides. For foods on the dirty dozen list, you should always purchase organic.
The 2023 Dirty Dozen list includes the following:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collard & mustard greens
- Peaches
- Pears
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Bell & hot peppers
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Green beans
The Clean Fifteen
The EWG also publishes a “Clean Fifteen” list. It highlights fruits and vegetables with the lowest levels of pesticide residues. If you can’t find or afford organic the clean fifteen have a lower toxic load.
The 2023 Clean Fifteen list includes the following:
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Mangoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Watermelon
- Carrots
Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides. They also avoid fertilizers and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It also avoids irradiation. This is a process of exposing food to ionizing radiation. It kills bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens that may be present in the food.
This process extends the shelf life of food and reduces the risk of foodborne illness. The ionizing radiation can come from sources such as gamma rays, electron beams, and X-rays.
People have concerns about the safety and potential health effects of irradiated food. The FDA and other regulatory agencies have approved the use of food irradiation as safe. It is currently used to treat certain types of food, including meat, poultry, and fresh produce.
Critics argue that the process may:
- Create harmful byproducts
- Destroy beneficial nutrients
- Lead to the development of resistant bacteria.
In the U.S., this labeling requirement applies to all irradiated food products sold, including meat, poultry, and fresh produce. However, the FDA does not require labeling irradiated foods on spices or wheat flour.
Many European countries are more cautious about the use of food irradiation. Austria and Italy, have banned the use of food irradiation altogether. France and Germany, allow the use of irradiation for certain foods. Such as herbs and spices, but prohibit it for others, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
The FDA has determined that irradiated food is safe to eat. And, the labeling requirement is not a warning label, but rather an information label. Labeling gives consumers an informed choice about the food they buy and consume.
Benefits of Eating Organic
The USDA regulates the organic industry, they use strict standards for what can be labeled as organic. Organic means they are grown without fertilizers, pesticides, and other synthetic additives. There are many benefits of eating organic fruits and vegetables including:
- Better nutritional value. Organic produce has higher levels of nutrients. Such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than conventionally grown produce.
- Better taste. Organic produce has a better taste. It is often fresher and grown in healthier soil.
- Environmental benefits. Organic farming practices are better for the environment. They promote biodiversity, conserve water and soil, and reduce pollution.
- Lower pesticide residues. Organic fruits and vegetables have lower levels of pesticide residues. Pesticides cause health problems, including cancer, reproductive issues, and developmental problems in children.
- Support for small farmers. Buying organic produce supports small farmers who use sustainable farming practices. Large industrial farms rely on synthetic chemicals and monoculture practices.
How Choosing Organic May Benefit MS Patients
MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Researchers found Epstein-Barr virus is the leading cause of MS. However, other factors including toxic chemicals and heavy metals are also a factor.
Pesticides are both toxic chemicals and they contain heavy metals. Exposure to heavy metals causes neurological symptoms and damages the nervous system. They kill nerve cells that transmit signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic are toxic to the nervous system. They cause neurological symptoms such as brain fog, weakness, and poor coordination. Pesticide exposure affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems.
A 2013 study found:
“A major risk of MS was also found among workers engaged in agriculture, suggesting a role of pesticides, whose neurotoxic effect is well known.” – PubMed
To control unwanted insects farmers started using pesticides. But these pesticides are also harmful to humans and other non-targeted species. Exposure to pesticides can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.
Some pesticides affect the nervous system. By inhibiting the activity of an enzyme that is essential for proper nerve function. This can lead to symptoms such as brain fog, dizziness, poor balance, and weakness.
Farm workers’ exposure to these pesticides has an increased risk of MS. Exposure to pesticides also causes cancer, reproductive disorders, and endocrine disruption.
To learn more about mercury and MS read: The Shocking Truth About Mercury And MS
Environmental Working Group
EWG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in the United States. They aim to protect human health and the environment. They provide research, and education, and advocate environmental and public health issues.
EWG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in the United States, that aims to protect human health and the environment. They provide research, and education, and advocate for environmental and public health issues.
They empower people to make informed choices about their health and the environment. Also, to promote policies and practices that protect public health and the planet.
You can also find a list of clean body products and clean household products. For safer personal care products check out EWG’s Skin Deep. It has thousands of products to help you find the cleanest products.
They also have an app to find clean personal care, cleaning, and food products. Here is a link: EWG Healthy Living app.
EWG’s 2023 Dirty Dozen List
The pesticides phosmet and malathion are toxic to the nervous system. Phosmet is not approved for use in the European Union. And, malathion is only approved for use in greenhouses. Yet, they are still used on U.S. crops.
These pesticides are also linked to the massive global decline in bees. Pesticides also kill wildlife such as deer, foxes, hawks, owls, and squirrels. Pesticides harm thousands of the nation’s most endangered plants and animals.
I used to get bumble bees in my flower garden, I enjoyed watching them collect pollen. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen one in years due to pesticides in neighboring farms. If we see all pollinators like bees die, that hurts our ecosystem.
How to Remove Heavy Metals
Heavy metals (found in pesticides) may not cause MS but they are a factor. Fortunately, you can eat certain organic foods to help remove heavy metals.
Heavy metal detox foods to eat include:
- Atlantic dulse
- Barley grass juice powder
- Cilantro
- Dandelion
- Garlic
- Lemon juice
- Pectin-rich foods such as apples
- Spirulina
- Wild blueberries
Add each of these foods to your diet every day. Drink a smoothie that includes all of these ingredients, okay, maybe not the garlic.
EWG’s 2023 Dirty Dozen
Unfortunately, organic produce is more expensive than conventionally grown produce. But, the health and environmental benefits of eating organic outweigh the additional cost. If you can’t afford to buy all organic produce at least buy organic if it shows up on the 2023 dirty dozen list.
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Images by PicJumbo.com, Image by aleksandarlittlewolf on Freepik, and wurliburli from Pixabay
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6176703/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24734319/
How the 2023 Dirty Dozen Affects You
