Few of us have the time or budget to maintain a 100 percent organic diet. Luckily, not all conventional fruits and vegetables are equally tainted by pesticides. In fact, some types of produce contain significantly higher levels of pesticides than others. To help identify the best investments when buying organic, groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have helped to identify the “Dirty Dozen” — the fruits and veggies most impacted by pesticides.
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They’ve also created a list of the “Clean 15” — the produce that is the least likely to contain pesticide residue. If you can’t afford to go organic all the time, you can buy these goods knowing that they are less contaminated by chemicals. One of the cleanest grocery store finds? Avocados! So bring on the guacamole.
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Pull up this infographic next time you head to the grocery store so you’ll know exactly what is and isn’t worth the extra cash. Your wallet (and your body) will thank you for it.
The Dirty Dozen: What to Buy Organic
Originally posted March 18, 2014. Updated May 2015.