2021’S DIRTY DOZEN AND CLEAN FIFTEEN

21 / APRIL / 2021
SHEREE'S HEALTH DIARIES

WHY BOTHER EATING ORGANIC? (A question I get asked all the time as a holistic nutritionist)… 

Well, I have the answers for you below! 

Did you know that the pesticides on our foods actually contain harmful chemicals that can overload the liver, which can lead to storing excess weight, acne, higher cholesterol, and hormonal imbalances!

Even though we may not be able to see or taste the toxins, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there!

Many pesticides and herbicides contain xenoestrogens which mimic our hormone estrogen in the body. However, xenoestrogens are not biodegradable, and our body doesn’t really know what to do with them, so to keep us safe, and the toxin out of the bloodstream, it stores it in a fat cell. 

This is why it is great that each year the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen are released! 

Check out the details below (and save this post to come back to at anytime – especially when you’re doing the groceries).

DIRTY DOZEN

These lists of foods aren’t the ones you should be avoiding, but rather the ones that are more likely to be exposed to pesticides and other nasties, meaning that if you can, shop organic for the dirty dozen, or if that’s not an option, be sure to wash your veggies with apple cider vinegar and water (with a pinch of salt) before consumption to be sure you are removing as much of the pesticides as possible.

  1. Bell + Hot Peppers (Capsicum + Chilli)
  2. Tomatoes
  3. Celery
  4. Cherries
  5. Peaches 
  6. Pears 
  7. Strawberries
  8. Spinach
  9. Nectarines
  10. Kale, Collard + Mustard Greens
  11. Apples
  12. Grapes  

CLEAN FIFTEEN

These foods are ones that are least likely to have the exposure to the sprays, so if you aren’t eating organic, it is best to opt for more foods from this list, however, I still recommend washing the skin if you plan on eating it for some of these foods just to be on the safe side! You will notice that a lot of these foods also have the option to remove the skin, which can contribute to them being less exposed to the pesticides etc in the first place (almost like a tough layer of protection from the nasties out there).

  1. Eggplant
  2. Asparagus
  3. Broccoli
  4. Cabbage
  5. Kiwifruit
  6. Cauliflower
  7. Mushrooms
  8. Cantaloupes (Rock Melon)
  9. Honeydew Melon
  10. Avocadoes 
  11. Sweet Corn
  12. Pineapple
  13. Onions
  14. Papaya 
  15. Sweet Peas (frozen)

So, next time you’re doing your shop be sure to keep this list handy, and wash your fruits and veggies when you get them home with apple cider vinegar, salt and water to clear off as many pesticides as you can if you can’t buy organic!

Yours in Health,
Sheree xo

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