Why and When To Buy Organic

​Have you ever stood in the fruit section of the supermarket, perhaps staring at two seemingly identical avocados, only distinguishable by the sticker marked 'organic' that's placed on one? As you've stared have you wondered if the extra few dollars spent on the latter will really have that much impact on your health? We know that pesticides are harmful, but we also know that they can be mostly removed with a good wash. So does eating organic prove to be more healthy than consuming it's cheaper chemically laden counterpart?

Recent studies show growing evidence that organically farmed crops of fruits and vegetables actually contain larger amounts of anthocyanins and flavanols compared with their conventional equivalents; up to 50 percent in some cases! As well as this, they contain substantially higher amounts of antioxidants. These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties, as well as many other benefits, such as cell protection, and increasing the body’s capability to fend off disease.
Omega 3 fatty acids, which are commonly associated with brain and cardiovascular health, have also been found to be 50 percent higher in organic meat and dairy produce.

While organic foods are quickly becoming more accessible, and perhaps more “trendy”, they also come with significantly higher price tag that not everyone can afford.
So, if you had to choose just a handful of organic products to include on your weekly shopping list, what should they be?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), has been helping to take the guess work out for you, with a list infamously titled ‘The dirty dozen’. This list, which is updated yearly, is your guide to which fruits and vegetables contain the largest amounts of pesticides, and the ones that you’ll naturally want to avoid if possible. On the flip side, there’s the ‘Clean 15’, and as you might have guessed, these ones are on the safer end of the pesticide spectrum. Foods with a thick skin that you don’t eat, such as pineapple, is generally safer, as  you have less chance of consuming the pesticides they are sprayed with.
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Here are 2017 lists-

Dirty Dozen:
Apples
Celery
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Blueberries
Sweet Bell Peppers
Also: Green beans and kale are moving up on the most sprayed list as well.

Clean 15:
Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (watch for GMO)
Pineapple
Mango
Sweet Peas
Eggplant
Cauliflower
Asparagus
Kiwi
Cabbage
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet Potatoes
Honeydew Melon
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If  for any reason organic produce isn’t available to you, never fear! Just make sure you wash your fruit and vegetables properly. You can do this by simply soaking it in a mixture of 4 parts water to one part plain white vinegar for about 20 minutes. Rinse it again in a strainer, and you’re ready to go!