When it comes to buying produce, it's hard to escape pesticides these days if you're not buying organic.
These chemicals are 'hormone disruptors' which can be a cause for hormonal imbalance & related symptoms or illnesses.
The Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen are two lists of produce that can hopefully provide some guidance on buying fresh produce with the least amount of pesticide residue so you can reduce toxin load and better support your health and hormones.
The Dirty Dozen
When it comes to the dirty dozen, try your best to eat organic where possible, or, even better, grow your own!
- Apples
- Celery
- Capsicum
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Nectarines
- Grapes
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Blueberries
- Potatoes
The Clean Fifteen
As for the clean fifteen, these are the fruits and vegetables with the least amount of pesticidal residue. If you want to be extra thorough, it can be a good idea to clean your produce by soaking them in a bath of warm water with 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar prior to use.
- Asparagus
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Kiwifruit
- Melon
- Kumara / Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Watermelon
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Sweetcorn
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Cabbage
- Peas
