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Before Grocery Shopping, Meet the Dirty Dozen

July 6, 2016

We’ve all heard the adage “you are what you eat.” During my undergraduate program, I had a professor tell us repeatedly that “you are what you eat, digest, and absorb!” Regardless of which phrase you identify with, it is essential to know that what we eat can have lasting effects on the body. So what are we told to eat? More fruits and vegetables, right? This is absolutely true. Whole foods in their natural form are packed with nutrients. As naturopathic physicians, we are strong advocates for increasing your consumption of these nutrients. With current agricultural practices, there are some important things to consider before filling up your grocery cart. Today, I will discuss something called “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Clean 15.”

What Is the Dirty Dozen?

strawberries

Every year, since 2004, the non-profit research organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a report called the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. This guide ranks the pesticide contamination found on 48 of the most popular fruits and vegetables. The worst of the group are put on a list they call “The Dirty Dozen.” These are foods with the highest measured levels of pesticides. If you are not able to purchase everything organic, then it is highly recommended at least to purchase organic options for the foods on this list.

As a companion to “The Dirty Dozen,” they also create a list called “The Clean 15.” These are the fruits and vegetables that have the lowest measured levels of pesticide contamination. You are generally safe purchasing conventionally-grown versions of these produce items.

The Dirty Dozen

  • Strawberries
  • Apples
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Celery
  • Grapes
  • Cherries
  • Spinach
  • Tomatoes
  • Bell Peppers
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers

The Clean 15

  • Avocados
  • Sweet Corn*
  • Pineapples
  • Cabbage
  • Sweet Peas (frozen)
  • Onions
  • Asparagus
  • Mangos
  • Papayas*
  • Kiwi
  • Eggplant
  • Honeydew Melon
  • Grapefruit
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cauliflower

**Some varieties of sweet corn and papaya sold in the U.S. are genetically modified. If you would like to say no to GMOs, choose organic varieties of these.

What’s New in 2016?

Apples on cutting boardFor the past several years, apples have been at the top of The Dirty Dozen list. In 2016, they were bumped to the #2 position and replaced by strawberries. From the EWG report:

More than three-fourths of the fresh strawberries sold in the U.S. are grown in California, the state that most carefully tracks pesticide use. California’s data show that in 2014, nearly 300 pounds of pesticides were applied to each acre of strawberries—an astonishing amount compared to about five pounds of pesticides per acre of corn, which is considered a pesticide-intensive crop.

Strawberries used to be an occasional treat. With changes in growing practices, they are now available year-round. Unfortunately, conventional growing practices require massive amounts of chemicals. Some of the chemicals used in the United States were initially developed for chemical warfare and are banned in Europe and other countries.

dirty dozen checklistWhy Should I Be Concerned?

Pesticides can be hazardous to brain development in children and developing babies. (Yes, pregnant mothers can pass them on to a developing baby!) Other health effects caused by pesticides include chronic fatigue, asthma, immune system disorders, depression, irritability, and impaired memory. Most of our exposure to pesticides comes from the food we eat. Another potential exposure site is golf courses – these chemicals are frequently used to keep the greens looking beautiful.

How Can We Help?

The naturopathic physicians at Living Wellness Medical Center are highly trained in nutrition and diet. We can help support you on your way to making dietary changes. We also offer specialized testing to measure levels of pesticides in your body. Call 480-588-6856 for a free brief meet and greet appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors and start feeling better!

Click on “The Dirty Truth About the Dirty Dozen” infographic, pictured to the right, to learn more!

Filed Under: Blogs, Naturopathic Wellness

Jill Mapstead
Jill Mapstead
2022-03-22
Can’t say enough about Dr. Marianne Marchese! Her commitment to women’s wellness, calm, knowledgeable, non-judgemental guidance and insightful diagnoses / treatment has me turn to her for all my wellness needs. She takes the time to really listen. I feel heard and valued in her care.
Marc Cohn
Marc Cohn
2022-01-08
We had a great first visit with Dr. Turner and we look forward to continuing to work with her. She provides true support and guidance to better health. Alexandra Cohn
Ivana Kalika
Ivana Kalika
2021-12-24
I'm writing my review for Dr. Sarv Varta Khalsa. I met with her a few months ago to receive treatment for a condition I'd been dealing with for an extensive amount of time. She was incredibly kind and took the time to listen to all the details of the symptoms I was experiencing. The office had the prescriptions I needed on-hand so I didn't need to go off-site to find them. All natural remedies, and at comparatively good prices (I don't remember how much exactly, but if they were up-charging, which I doubt, I didn't notice nor would I have minded for the convenience). I'm still symptom-free now after following her recommendations, so I wanted to write a review to express my gratitude. Even though the appointment was pricey, it was worth every single penny to finally be able to live my life feeling normal again. Thank you so much!!
Irene Nicholas
Irene Nicholas
2021-12-15
What's better than a Naturopathic Dr.... Dr. Olivia Watkins!!! I have been working with her for over a year and have learned so much about myself, she is truly a team partner in my journey. She is experienced in ANYTHING you may be experiencing. I consider her my primary physician... you should too!!!
Stephanie Llamas
Stephanie Llamas
2021-11-29
Dr. Watkins is nothing short of incredible. She is kind and personable, while extremely smart and results driven. I have suffered from digestive and hormonal issues my whole life and it wasn't until I met Dr. Watkins that I finally felt heard by a Dr and saw a difference in my health. I can confidently say that my body has never felt this good and we are still working to be even better. If you are ready to feel better and feel heard from your doctor, then run, don't walk to Living Wellness.
D Bach
D Bach
2021-11-10
Dr Olivia Watkins offers a beautiful aura of sincere loving support that I will forever cherish, as she exudes and radiates a beautiful light towards her patients' health care needs. Also, her staff, Joslyn and Ariana are as sweet as they come and have been as helpful as can be to me. One issue I had (and have had a few) was a lack of nutrient absorption and it was Dr Olivia who helped me change that status (thank God!) which I'm already seeing immediate results from and I've had this issue for years which my nails and hair loss were severely revealing! I've also experienced so much stress in the last year and a half, that having Dr Olivia as part of my healing process has made all the difference in my recovery to a more whole being! At this point, I seriously don't know what I'd do without her, as she is now my go-to health advocate and will be to my end days. Dr Olivia is a GodSend! Don't hesitate to call her office. High fives for the brightest healing light you could ever pray for in life! After eight long years, Dr Olivia just recently finished her GM residency and once again, I must congratulate her on such discipline and hard work as it has obviously paid off in spades! Long live Dr Olivia!
Kristin A
Kristin A
2021-09-19
I love Dr. Marchese and so glad I found her last year. She has helped me so much with my health. I have recommended her to several people and they love her too.
Kelly leibrandt
Kelly leibrandt
2021-07-28
Dr. Watkins is life changing! I am so grateful that I was referred to Living Wellness and her specifically. I’ve been dealing with severe stomach issues for 10 years and have gone through the ringer with the test, labs, and over-the-counter medicine suggested by other doctors. Dr. Watkins is so smart, thoughtful, and attentive to every detail so that she can really get down to the bottom of your problems. She feels like a teammate and a very strong coach and a friend all in one. I’m finally on my way to feeling better and I couldn’t have done this without her. If you’re struggling don’t even hesitate to see her or any of the staff at living wellness. I promise you won’t regret it!
Erica Brunkow
Erica Brunkow
2021-03-19
I saw Dr. Warkins several times and was overly impressed her. I was going through cancer treatments and she was compassionate and resourceful. We connected and I felt at such ease with her. She followed up with me multiple times to see how I was doing and feeling. I will continue to see her for any future Gyn needs.
Carey Miller
Carey Miller
2021-03-18
I began to see Dr. Watkins for some general Women's Health issues and she was incredible to work with. She helped my body become more balanced, pain was relieved naturally, and my body was prepared for a healthy pregnancy. She is kind, knowledgable, and very supportive!
Google rating score: 5 of 5, based on 27 reviews

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