Top 10 Foods to Eat Organically

Some conventionally grown foods are treated with more pesticides than others. Some retain more of the pesticides. Here is a list of the top 10 foods containing the most pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C.

You can sidestep harm and still eat vitamin-rich foods. If you cannot find these foods organically, here are some great alternatives that contain the same valuable vitamins and minerals.

High-pesticide food: Strawberries
Main nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy alternatives: Blueberries, raspberries, oranges, grapefruit, kiwifruit, watermelon

High-pesticide food: Bell peppers
Main nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy alternatives: Green peas, broccoli, romaine, lettuce

High-pesticide food: Spinach
Main nutrient: Vitamins A and C
Healthy alternatives: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus

High-pesticide food: Cherries
Main nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy alternatives: Oranges, blueberries, raspberries, kiwifruit, blackberries, grapefruit

High-pesticide food: Peaches
Main nutrient: Vitamins A and C
Healthy alternatives: Nectarines, watermelon, tangerines, oranges, grapefruit

High-pesticide food: Mexican cantaloupe
Main nutrient: Vitamins A and C
and potassium
Healthy alternatives: U.S. cantaloupe grown from May to December, watermelon

High-pesticide food: Celery
Main nutrient: Carotenoids
Healthy alternatives: Carrots, broccoli, radishes, romaine lettuce

High-pesticide food: Apples
Main nutrient: Vitamin C
Healthy alternatives: Watermelon, nectarines, bananas, tangerines

High-pesticide food: Apricots
Main nutrient: Vitamins A an C and potassium
Healthy alternatives: Nectarines, watermelon, oranges, tangerines

High-pesticide food: Green beans
Main nutrient: Potassium
Healthy alternatives: Green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, asparagus

Read more: Food, Green Kitchen Tips

Excerpted from Your Organic Kitchen, by Jesse Ziff Cool.Copyright (c)2000 by Jesse Ziff Cool. Reprinted by permission of Rodale Press.
Excerpted from Your Organic Kitchen, by Jesse Ziff Cool.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Micheal M.

4:11PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates
we must light up the darkness for knowledge is not power its empowering lets all be empowered to change. life has value beyond measure
Peace and Love

send a green star

Jessica S.

9:47PM PDT on Oct 28, 2011

Diet is important and all but no one ever talks about equally important info... how it comes out :P http://howtohacklife101.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-shit-like-champion.html

Tim C.

3:34PM PDT on Oct 1, 2011

thanks, Annie

Jennifer C.

12:33AM PDT on Sep 22, 2011

Excellent article. Thanks.

Faith B.

11:31AM PDT on Aug 14, 2011

thanks for the article...

Carole R.

2:11PM PDT on Aug 7, 2011

I didn't realize that most of my favorite fruits and veggies were high pesticide foods. I will try harder to find and buy organic from now on.

Pat V.

8:56PM PDT on Jun 29, 2011

I dont have a garden now but I grow all my own herbs.rocket.lettuce toms in large pots around my house,and go to farmers markets for local produce,every little helps.

Robert O.

3:53PM PDT on Mar 20, 2011

Thanks, too bad organic is so expensive. :(

Gordana R.

4:16AM PST on Mar 2, 2011

useful article