According to many sources, growing your own food may be worth more than you think. The Pesticide Action Network North America says that a number of pesticides are associated with serious health issues such as neurological damage, birth defects, developmental and behavioral issues such as autism and ADHD and even certain types of cancer. Two of the worst offending pesticides are atrazine and dursban. Atrazine, used on corn, sugarcane and grain crops, is banned in France, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Exposure to this widely used pesticide is believed to cause cardiovascular damage, muscle spasms and adrenal gland damage, among other things. Dursban, used on apples, corn, cotton, almonds, alfalfa, oranges and walnuts, is believed to cause excessive salivation, nausea, diarrhea, headaches and convulsions. The EPA has banned most non-agricultural uses of dursban, such as in flea collars and to get rid of termites.
So the next time you shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, remember the “Dirty Dozen” list, those that test for the highest pesticide residue. They are:
*worst first
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Bell peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrots
12. Pears
The “Clean 15”, those with the least amount of pesticide residue are:
*best first
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet potatoes
For more information on pesticides, go to www.panna.org. For more on healthy living, go to The Greenhousequeen blog.
