The Dirty Dozen – The Top 12 Foods to Buy Organic>>>

If you can afford for everything in your eco-friendly shopping bag to be organic, then I say “go for it.” But let’s face it, organic produce can be expensive, and in this economy money isn’t exactly growing on pesticide-free trees.

Buying organic doesn’t have to be an all or nothing experience. Recently, my friend and her husband were thrust into a “penny-pinching panic” when they noticed the price tags at the – “expensive” – Whole Foods Market. Instead of swapping out some of the organic food for non-organic items, they dumped their basket and ran.

Many people don’t know that while certain foods really should be organic – usually because they contain high levels of hormones or pesticide residue – you’re not sealing your fate if everything on your plate isn’t 100% naturally grown. Generally, the rule with fruit and veggies is “the thicker the skin, the less pesticides they let in.” But like all rules they are made to be broken, and there are always exceptions.

Take the panic out of shopping organic – download and print the wallet size “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides,” or download the new iPhone app. There is also a great slide show on The Daily Green that includes advice on buying organic meats, grains, and dairy (foods that can contain high levels of hormones and antibiotics).

If buying organic isn’t in your budget, then fudge it, and stick to purchasing items on the Clean 15 list. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), by avoiding the “Dirty Dozen,” and sticking to the produce listed on the “Clean 15,” you can reduce your pesticide exposure by 80%.

The Dirty Dozen (starting with the worst offender):

1. Peach

2. Apple

3. Bell Pepper

4. Celery

5. Nectarine

6. Strawberries

7. Cherries

8. Kale

9. Lettuce

10. Grapes (Imported)

11. Carrot

12. Pear

The Clean 15 (starting with the best):

1. Onion

2. Avocado

3. Sweet Corn

4. Pineapple

5. Mango

6. Asparagus

7. Sweet Peas

8. Kiwi

9. Cabbage

10. Eggplant

11. Papaya

12. Watermelon

13. Broccoli

14. Tomato

15. Sweet Potato

Wellness Everlasting!!!