Don't we all love summer and the profusion of fresh fruits and vegetables available to us? But did you realize that when you are eating those foods there are toxic chemicals on the skins. Plus the chemicals are often absorbed into the flesh of the food. These chemicals are usually in the form of pesticides used to grow the foods.These chemicals are harmful to our bodies. They are responsible for so many health problems that we may encounter. Problems like: Cancer Fertility problems Brain tumors Childhood leukemia Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Birth defects Irritation to skin and eyes Hormone or endocrine system problems Nervous system damageThose especially at risk from pesticides are children, whose bodies are still developing, along with pregnant women, whose unborn children are extremely susceptible to damage from these toxic chemicals. Some argue that the amount of pesticides on produce is minimal, and therefore not enough to influence health, however an increasing number of experts believe that exposure to even small amounts of pesticides over a long period of time can have a negative impact on your health.By eating some of the most-contaminated fruits and vegetables, you and your children are exposed to about 15 different pesticides a day, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a not-for-profit environmental research organization. No one knows for sure what impacts these chemicals that are, by their very nature, designed to kill will have on your health. Fortunately, by avoiding the most-contaminated produce out there, and concentrating on the least contaminated instead, you can reduce your exposure to pesticides by almost 90 percent, EWG says. Or buy organic foods! You must take your own safety and health into your own hands. Be responsible for what you put into your body!How to Keep Your Food Pesticide Exposure to a MinimumContrary to popular belief, simply washing with water and peeling fruit and vegetables is not enough to protect yourself and your family from pesticides. It will reduce the levels somewhat, but it will not eliminate them. In fact, the fruit and vegetable rankings below have taken washing and typical preparation into account (such as peeling of bananas) before being tested for pesticides. Really... you don't want to peel fruits and veggies like apples and potatoes because the skins are what contain a lot of the nutrients and antioxidants.An excellent alternative that will help to remove pesticides from your produce better than water alone is (TOUGH N' TENDER) . This fruit and veggie wash naturally eliminates the pesticides, dirt, mold and other residues found in so many of today's fruits and vegetables.The 20 Fruits and Veggies With the MOST PesticidesThese are the ones that you should always buy organic, if possible. If you do buy conventional versions of the following produce, please be sure to wash them thoroughly with (TOUGH N' TENDER) (organic produce, of course, should also be washed just in case). These are ranked in order by EWG, with the worst of the bunch, peaches, at #1. 1. Peaches Peaches tend to have the highest concentration of pesticdes so whenever possible buy these as organic fruits. 2. Apples 3. Sweet Bell Peppers 4. Celery 5. Nectarines 6. Strawberries 7. Cherries 8. Pears 9. Grapes (Imported) 10. Spinach 11. Lettuce 12. Potatoes 13. Carrots 14. Green Beans 15. Hot Peppers 16. Cucumbers 17. Raspberries 18. Plums 19. Grapes (Domestic) 20. Oranges The 20 Fruits and Veggies With the LEAST Amount of Pesticides1. Onion 2. Avocado 3. Sweet corn (Frozen) 4. Pineapples 5. Mango 6. Asparagus 7. Sweet peas (Frozen) 8. Kiwi 9. Bananas 10. Cabbage 11. Broccoli 12. Papaya 13. Blueberries 14. Cauliflower 15. Winter Squash 16. Watermelon 17. Sweet potatoes 18. Tomatoes 19. Honeydew melon 20. Cantaloupe
