Little Step No. 19
What to do:
Check out the Dirty Dozen
Why this step works:
We live in an increasingly toxic world, and in order to reduce daily exposure to potentially harmful toxins, I'm a firm believer in the value of choosing organic fruit & veg as much as possible.
I completely recognise however that cost and availability are barriers that can make this difficult. My recommendation therefore is always to start small and switch to organic for just one type of fruit or veg that you eat regularly. But what should you choose? This little step is simply to check out The Dirty Dozen because it's a brilliant resource that can help you decide where to start.
The Dirty Dozen is a list of 12 fruits & vegetables (in rank order) that have been found to be the most pesticide-contaminated (even after thoroughly washing and peeling where applicable). This list is produced annually by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), and is based on the testing of 46,000 produce samples. Get the most 'bang for your buck' by swapping to organic for one fruit or vegetable off this list.
The Dirty Dozen (EWG 2021)
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale, collard & mustard greens
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Cherries
Peaches
Pears
Bell & chilli peppers
Celery
Tomatoes
And if you’re feeling like one small swap like this is too insignificant to bother, trust me, it really isn’t. If you eat an apple a day, and switch to organic; that's 365 apples in a year; and 3650 apples over 10 years!!! All those teeny tiny little steps really do add up over time.