When it comes to eating healthy, the emphasis goes beyond just carbs, fat, protein, and calories. It even goes beyond food groups!

When you make the conscious decision to start eating healthier foods, it’s important to pay attention to what’s in your food.

Did you know that the nutritional value of most our produce has decreased over the last few decades? The food we eat no longer gives us the nourishment it used to, requiring us to seek other sources of vital nutrients.

This is due to the increasingly more common use of pesticides and genetically modified foods (GMOs).

By consuming organic food as often as possible and choosing foods that are locally grown, you can minimize the effect of pesticides and GMOs in your diet!

The Produce You MUST Buy Organic

Beware These Foods: The Dirty Dozen

These foods have been named as the most likely to be contaminated by pesticides. If you’re on a budget, these are the foods you want to prioritize buying organic.

• Peaches
  Apples
  Sweet Bell Peppers
  Celery
  Nectarines
  Strawberries
  Cherries
  Pears
  Grapes (Imported from elsewhere)
  Spinach
  Lettuce
  Potatoes

Safer Bets: The Clean Fifteen

These foods are the least likely to contain pesticides, according to the President’s Cancer Panel. Because of their many layers and rough outer skin, these foods are less likely to be toxic when bought conventional.

• Onions
  Avocados
  Sweet corn
  Pineapples
  Mango
  Sweet peas
  Asparagus
  Kiwi fruit
  Cabbage
  Eggplant
  Cantaloupe
  Watermelon
  Grapefruit
  Sweet potatoes (also known as yams)
  Sweet onions

Guidelines for Staying Safe When Buying Food

Most foods are much better for your body, on multiple levels, when purchased organic. They’re closer to the earth and more care has been taken to ensure that they’re raised in a natural setting.

If you’re not able to purchase organic at a grocery store, farmer’s markets are a great alternative. Local farmers aren’t subjected to the same large-scale requirements of a corporate or a farm subsidized by the government. They’re usually more likely to use fewer pesticides and more natural methods when growing foods. Often, these small farmers carry organic produce, even if the label itself doesn’t say “organic.”

It’s also easier to buy foods that are in season if you have local sources. Farmers want to ensure that their stock doesn’t go bad before the next crop comes to flower. Eating seasonally is also statistically the best way to avoid food that has been genetically altered to remain fresh longer.
Where do you buy food in your neighborhood? Do you typically buy organic food? Tell us why or why not in the comments!