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发帖数: 11545 | 1 10 dirty fruits and veggies
by Health.com, on Tue Feb 8, 2011 10:27am PST
By Ashley Macha
Are the fruits and vegetables you buy clean enough to eat?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) studied 100,000 produce pesticide
reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to create a list of 49 of the dirtiest and cleanest produce.
So before you hit the grocery store, see how some of your favorite fruits
and veggies measured up.
Did one of your favorites make the list? Don't worry, the EWG recommends
purchasing organic or locally grown varieties, which can lower pesticide
intake by 80% versus conventionally grown produce.
Celery
This stalky vegetable tops the dirty list. Research showed that a single
celery stalk had 13 pesticides, while, on the whole, celery contained as
many as 67 pesticides.
Chemicals fester on this vegetable as it has no protective skin and its
stems cup inward, making it difficult to wash the entire surface of the
stalk. It’s not easy to find locally grown celery, so if you like this
crunchy veggie, go organic.
Peaches
Peaches are laced with 67 different chemicals, placing it second on the list
of most contaminated fruits and vegetables. They have soft fuzzy skin, a
delicate structure, and high susceptibility to most pests, causing them to
sprayed more frequently.
Health.com: 10 heart-healthy dessert recipes
Strawberries
This red, juicy fruit has a soft, seedy skin, allowing easier absorption of
pesticides. Research showed that strawberries contained 53 pesticides. Try
to buy strawberries at a local farmer’s market for a sweet dessert.
Apples
Apples are high-maintenance fruit, needing many pesticides to stave off mold
, pests, and diseases. The EWG found 47 different kinds of pesticides on
apples, and while produce washes can help remove some of the residue, they’
re not 100% effective.
Blueberries (domestic)
These antioxidant-rich berries have a thin layer of skin that allows
chemicals to more easily contaminate the fruit. Domestic blueberries were
loaded with 13 pesticides on a single sample, according to the EWG. Imported
blueberries also made the list at No. 14 for the dirtiest produce.
Health.com: 10 refreshing blueberry recipes
Sweet bell pepper
This crunchy, yet thin-skinned, vegetable is highly susceptible to
pesticides. According to the EWG, sweet bell peppers showed traces of 63
types of pesticides. While some pesticides can be washed away, many still
remain.
Spinach, kale, collard greens
These leafy green vegetables are on the list, with spinach loaded with 45
different kinds of pesticides and kale 57.
In 2006, Dole recalled bagged baby spinach after multiple E. coli illnesses
associated with the vegetable made their way across the country.
Health.com: 10 foods that can make you sick
Grapes (imported)
These tiny fruit have extremely thin skins, allowing for easy absorption of
pesticides. And think twice before buying imported wine. The grapes that go
into the wine could be coming from vineyards that use too many pesticides.
Potatoes
Have you ever indulged in a potato skin at your favorite restaurant? You
might want to think twice before eating the skin. This spud was highly laced
with pesticides—36, according to the EWG—that are needed to prevent pests
and diseases.
Health.com: 5 new ways to savor your spuds
Cherries
Cherries, like blueberries, strawberries, and peaches, have a thin coating
of skin—often not enough to protect the fruit from harmful pesticides.
Research showed cherries grown in the U.S. had three times the amount of
pesticides as imported cherries. Because cherries contain ellagic acid, an
antioxidant that neutralizes carcinogens, it’s worthwhile to buy organic or
seek imported ones. |
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