Monday, August 13, 2012
Prioritize when it comes to buying organic foods
Many people can’t afford to buy all organic foods. If you
are concerned about your health but also worried about the price tag, there are
ways to prioritize when to buy organic and when you don’t really need to.
Alice Facente is a community education nurse for the Backus
Health System. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy
Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
The Environmental Working Group has developed a list of
the foods highest in pesticides. Called the Dirty Dozen, the list includes
celery; peaches; strawberries; apples; blueberries; nectarines; bell peppers;
spinach; kale; cherries; potatoes; and grapes. These are some healthy and great
tasting foods, but if at all possible, buy these foods organic.
I also recommend that you buy organic milk and meats. In
my opinion, the expense is worth it.
But not all food needs to be organic. Food generally
considered to be lowest in pesticides are: onions; sweet corn; pineapple; kiwi,
mango; asparagus; cabbage; eggplant; tomatoes; broccoli; sweet potatoes; and
watermelon.
Another suggestion I have is to buy local whenever
possible. Farmers markets are springing up in every town, and produce is
usually freshly-picked and generally contain less pesticides and other
chemicals.
# posted by ----------------- @ 11:34 AM 
