DIRTY DOZEN & CLEAN FIFTEEN

Healthy, balanced diet is very important to maintain youthfulness and health — we all know that. It is always encouraged to have a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables as they are rich in vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients. They seem to be the healthiest option.

If you are not familiar with the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen terms than you should read on.

Those are the two lists published every year by Environmental Working Group (EWG) which shows the fruits and vegetables which are most contaminated by pesticides (Dirty Dozen) and those which have the lowest traces of pesticides (Clean Fifteen).

It is advised to get to know both lists as they are useful when doing grocery shopping. It is recommended to buy organic on the Dirty Dozen list and buy conventional on the Clean Fifteen list.When EWG refers to Dirty Dozen, they refer to 12 dirtiest crops that farmers use most pesticides on. The list is below.

It is very important because as much fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals there is lots of pesticides being used to grow them. When we are exposed to pesticides in high doses it can lead to various health issues.

The Dirty Dozen for 2019:

1. Strawberries

2. Spinach

3. Kale

4. Nectarines

5. Apples

6. Grapes

7. Peaches

8. Cherries

9. Pears

10. Tomatoes

11. Celery

12. Potatoes

More on EWG website

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

The Clean 15 for 2019:

1. Avocados

2. Sweet corn

3. Pineapple

4. Frozen sweet peas

5. Onions

6. Papayas

7. Eggplant

8. Asparagus

9. Kiwis

10. Cabbages

11. Cauliflower

12. Cantaloupes

13. Broccoli

14. Mushrooms

15. Honeydew melons