What type of food is termed as Dirty Dozen? Shall we totally avoid eating less of this type of food?
Dirty Dozen are identified foods in the conventional non organic food chain that contain the highest amount of pesticide residues. And this list is updated yearly by the Environmental Working Group organisation.
The current list of dirty dozen is as follows:
- Apples
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Celery
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Bell Peppers
- Nectarines (Imported)
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Snow Peas (Imported)
- Potatoes
The listing acts as a guideline to make us to be more aware that we can choose to buy organic for this list of food. Or we should also analyse how we can remove pesticides residues from these food? Here are some accepted recommendations:
- Priortise to buy organic – at least for the most contaminated produce
- Peel the skin of these grown produce
- Wash your produce well with clean filtered water, and soak it with Himalayan black salt mix water solution or organic apple cider vinegar solution for 15-20 minute
Generally, conventional local grown vegetables and fruits will have lower level of pesticides as imported fruits and vegetables may get another round of radiation process by the quarantine control department before food is sold in the commercial market which will add on additional toxicity level.
However most wellness advisors and expert believe that health benefits of diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risk of pesticide exposure and it is far better than not eating fruits and vegetables at all.
And in Ayurveda, there is a wholesome holistic manner and system to cleanse, detox and rejuvenate and revitalise our health through the choices of fruits, vegetables, and herbs chosen as food according to our body constitution.