Dirty Dozen

No, I'm not talking about the movies, though growing up it was one of my favorites.  I am talking, however, about the fruits and vegetables that contain the highest concentration of pesticide chemicals.

According to an article on CNN Health, the list of the non-organic foods with the highest levels of pesticides is as follows:

The Dirty Dozen
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce

Not all non-organic fruits and vegetables have a high pesticide level. Some produce has a strong outer layer that provides a defense against pesticide contamination. The group found a number of non-organic fruits and vegetables dubbed the "Clean 15" that contained little to no pesticides.
The Clean 15
Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions

Whenever possible, when shopping for fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list, it is advisable to purchase those that have been organically grown.  


Pesticides are chemicals used by farmers to help to prevent crop losses to disease and insects. As noted in a prior blog post, a particular type of pesticide, organophosphates, might be linked to neurological disorders such as ADHD.

A common misconception is that simply washing the produce will wash away the chemicals. Although washing of all fruits and vegetables is advisable to remove bacteria and dirt, washing does little to remove pesticides since they are typically easily absorbed through the skin of the produce.  In some cases, peeling can be somewhat helpful.

Kids are the most vulnerable to this chemical attack because their brains and bodies are still growing.  Pesticides, after all, are chemicals designed to kill.  Although the FDA claims that small amounts of pesticides are harmless, there are few long term studies available.

The moral of the story is to purchase organically grown produce when possible. There are some indications that people who eat organically grown foods can reduce their body contamination of pesticides by as much as 95% in just two weeks.

Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html?eref=rss_health&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_health+%28RSS%3A+Health%29

ADHD Linked to Pesticides in Nationwide Study

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children has been linked to exposure to pesticides. Trace levels of pesticides on commercially produced fruits and vegetables may be responsible, in part for the exploding epidemic of ADHD in this country, according to a new nationwide study. In the study, more than 1100 children across the the nation were tested for evidence of certain pesticides in their urine. It was found that those children with above averale levels of the pesticides in their system were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

The pesticides in question are organophosphates. They work on insects by interfering with the bugs nervous system. In short, they are neurotoxins. These toxins work on brain chemicals that are related to ADHD, so according to the researchers, it is plausible that there could be a connection.

According to my source article, "Detectable levels of pesticides are present in a large number of fruits and vegetables sold in the U.S., according to a 2008 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited in the study. In a representative sample of produce tested by the agency, 28 percent of frozen blueberries, 20 percent of celery, and 25 percent of strawberries contained traces of one type of organophosphate. Other types of organophosphates were found in 27 percent of green beans, 17 percent of peaches, and 8 percent of broccoli."

So, what are we to do?  Clearly, it is not a good idea to stop eating fruits and vegetables. We can, however, make better and healthier choices on where we get our produce. Whenever possible, choose organically grown vegetables and fruits. Another good idea is to purchase produce from the local farmers' markets. The organically grown and locally grown fruits and vegetables typically test for lower levels of residual pesticide residue.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Keith Biggs, DC

biggschiropractic@gmail.com
www.eastmesachiropractor.com 

Dr. Biggs has been practicing chiropractic and holistic health care in Mesa, AZ for more than twenty years.