With hints of spring on the horizon, maybe it is timely to consider what we get along with our fruit and veg from the commercial green grocer, and decide what to grow at home if space is limited.
The Environmental Working Group is one body that checks pesticide residues and reports on which fruit and vegetables have the least and most. So this week we check out what might be OK to buy in the shops and what is safer to grow at home, but first
Thought for the day
Any illness that can be treated by diet alone
Should be treated by no other means.
Maimonides – Physician around 1200 AD
Let us be clear.
Whenever possible, organic produce is best. Best for you, best for the soil, best for the animals and other critters like worms, best for the environment at large. However, it is not always easy or possible to obtain. Some are limited by finance (how long before organic and commercial produce cost the same???), some by a wide range of issues around availability.
And if you do have a home garden, maybe space is limited; maybe time or other factors limit what
can be grown.
So it may be helpful to know what residues are on common fruit and vegetables.
Then if choices need to be made, they can be well informed.
The Environmental Working Group was founded by Ken Green and is one of America’s foremost environmental protection agencies. It is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment and produces an annual shopper’s guide. The guide lists which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides and which have the fewest.
The worst? Sadly it is the good old apple. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away’? Maybe not if it is commercially grown!
Potatoes have more residue by weight than anything else.
A single grape sample and a capsicum sample contained 15 pesticides, while samples of cherry tomatoes, nectarines, peaches, imported snap peas and strawberries all showed 13 different pesticides.
The good news? Avocados for the second year running have the least residues with only 1% of all samples tested showing any residues. You can see the full list via THIS LINK
Here are the stand outs – good and bad…
The fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides
- in descending order; worst at the top
1. Apples
2. Peaches
3. Nectarines
4. Strawberries
5. Grapes
6. Celery
7. Spinach
8. Sweet bell peppers (capsicum)
9. Cucumber
10. Cherry tomatoes
11. Snap peas (imported)
12. Potatoes
13. Hot peppers
14. Kale / Collard greens
Fruits and vegetables with the least pesticides
- best at the top...
1. Avocado
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet peas (frozen)
6. Onion
7. Asparagus
8. Mango
9. Papayas (pawpaw)
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Grapefruit
13. Cantaloupe (rock melon)
14. Cauliflower
15. Sweet potato
Remember, if at all possible, buy or even better, grow organic;
but if choices need to be made, maybe these list help inform those choices.
And get those veggie gardens on the move for Spring...
Happy, healthy eating. Enjoy!
MEDITATION TEACHER TRAINING
The delight of teaching others one of the most useful things possible ...
This training, led by Ian and Ruth personally, is based on a comprehensive and fully documented manual. You will learn how to teach two 4 week programs - one featuring guided imagery, the other contemplation; both covering the stillness of meditation as well. These training have been booking out, and like all our retreats, it is wise to register early.
The Environmental Working Group is one body that checks pesticide residues and reports on which fruit and vegetables have the least and most. So this week we check out what might be OK to buy in the shops and what is safer to grow at home, but first
Thought for the day
Any illness that can be treated by diet alone
Should be treated by no other means.
Maimonides – Physician around 1200 AD
Let us be clear.
Whenever possible, organic produce is best. Best for you, best for the soil, best for the animals and other critters like worms, best for the environment at large. However, it is not always easy or possible to obtain. Some are limited by finance (how long before organic and commercial produce cost the same???), some by a wide range of issues around availability.
And if you do have a home garden, maybe space is limited; maybe time or other factors limit what can be grown.
So it may be helpful to know what residues are on common fruit and vegetables.
Then if choices need to be made, they can be well informed.
The Environmental Working Group was founded by Ken Green and is one of America’s foremost environmental protection agencies. It is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment and produces an annual shopper’s guide. The guide lists which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides and which have the fewest.
The worst? Sadly it is the good old apple. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away’? Maybe not if it is commercially grown!
Potatoes have more residue by weight than anything else.
A single grape sample and a capsicum sample contained 15 pesticides, while samples of cherry tomatoes, nectarines, peaches, imported snap peas and strawberries all showed 13 different pesticides.
The good news? Avocados for the second year running have the least residues with only 1% of all samples tested showing any residues. You can see the full list via THIS LINK
Here are the stand outs – good and bad…
The fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides
- in descending order; worst at the top
1. Apples
2. Peaches
3. Nectarines
4. Strawberries
5. Grapes
6. Celery
7. Spinach
8. Sweet bell peppers (capsicum)
9. Cucumber
10. Cherry tomatoes
11. Snap peas (imported)
12. Potatoes
13. Hot peppers
14. Kale / Collard greens
Fruits and vegetables with the least pesticides
- best at the top...
1. Avocado2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet peas (frozen)
6. Onion
7. Asparagus
8. Mango
9. Papayas (pawpaw)
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Grapefruit
13. Cantaloupe (rock melon)
14. Cauliflower
15. Sweet potato
Remember, if at all possible, buy or even better, grow organic;
but if choices need to be made, maybe these list help inform those choices.
And get those veggie gardens on the move for Spring...
Happy, healthy eating. Enjoy!
COMING SOON
NEXT MEDITATION RETREAT
Bringing Mind and Heart Together 21 – 27th October 2017 Ruth and Ian Gawler with Liz Stilwell
Amidst the tranquil beauty of the Coromandel Peninsula, 2 hours from Auckland New Zealand
A mind with no heart is cold and empty. A mind with heart is warm, creative and full of potential.
Ready to learn how to use meditation and Guided Imagery to open your heart and bring balance to your mind?
Join us for this very special retreat! LINK HERE
MEDITATION TEACHER TRAINING
The delight of teaching others one of the most useful things possible ...
This training, led by Ian and Ruth personally, is based on a comprehensive and fully documented manual. You will learn how to teach two 4 week programs - one featuring guided imagery, the other contemplation; both covering the stillness of meditation as well. These training have been booking out, and like all our retreats, it is wise to register early.
LINK HERE
NEXT SPECIFIC CANCER PROGRAM
CANCER, HEALING and WELLBEING
Accessing the heart and science of Mind-Body Medicine
Offering genuine hope for all those affected by cancer
20 – 24 November 2017 with Drs Ruth and Ian Gawler
Located amidst the natural beauty of the Yarra Valley
This life-changing program provides the opportunity to experience the food, practise the meditation and to be in a supportive, positive atmosphere. The program is evidence based, highly experiential and practical. The focus is on the therapeutic power of the Healing Diet, the mind and meditation, emotional health and positive psychology. The aim is to provide clarity, understanding and confidence. LINK HERE
NEXT SPECIFIC CANCER PROGRAM
CANCER, HEALING and WELLBEING
Accessing the heart and science of Mind-Body Medicine
Offering genuine hope for all those affected by cancer
20 – 24 November 2017 with Drs Ruth and Ian Gawler
Located amidst the natural beauty of the Yarra Valley
This life-changing program provides the opportunity to experience the food, practise the meditation and to be in a supportive, positive atmosphere. The program is evidence based, highly experiential and practical. The focus is on the therapeutic power of the Healing Diet, the mind and meditation, emotional health and positive psychology. The aim is to provide clarity, understanding and confidence. LINK HERE
Hi Ian
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your post. Just thought I would share this idea that came down through generations of orchardists who live in the Yarra Valley. When eating apples or any other fruit they would cut off and not eat the "puddle" part of the apple just around the stalk. This is where water will collect and stay until it evaporates. This is where residues from any spraying will concentrate. So if non-organic apples are on the menu this may be helpful.
Best
Michael