The Dirty Dozen 2021 Explained—Wellness Wednesdays with Dr. Maloof

- Private group -
Fri, 03/26/2021 - 11:15am

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817 Commercial Street
Rockport, ME 04856
United States

The Dirty Dozen 2021 Explained—Wellness Wednesdays with Dr. Maloof

The top 12 foods contaminated with pesticides

Dr. Maloof typically recommends eating organic foods as much as possible. However, if you’re on a budget buying organic can be overwhelming. At a minimum Dr. Maloof recommends buying organic for the foods listed on the Dirty Dozen.

What is the Dirty Dozen?

These are the top 12 foods contaminated with pesticides. Samples are tested after having been prepared for cooking (i.e. washed or peeled). After this preparation process there is still pesticide residue left on the fruit or veggie.

Why do I care?

Consumption of pesticides have profound health effects. “Long term pesticide exposure has been linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease; asthma; depression and anxiety; attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and cancer, including leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”2 You may not be able to completely eliminate pesticides in your life, but there is a lot that you can do to lower the toxic burden, such as buying organic when possible especially foods on the dirty dozen list!

Who determines the list?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that annually tests the top 46 most popular fruits & veggies for pesticides. They also are a great resource to see if other products you use in your home are safe. Check out their website for more information: www.ewg.org.

2021 Dirty Dozen1:

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Kale, collard, and mustard greens
  4. Nectarines
  5. Apples
  6. Grapes
  7. Cherries
  8. Peaches
  9. Pears
  10. Bell and hot peppers
  11. Celery
  12. Tomatoes

The EWG also notes that: “A small amount of sweet corn, papaya, and summer squash sold in the United States is produced with genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want avoid genetically modified produce.”1

 

1 Group, Environmental Working. “Dirty Dozen™ Fruits and Vegetables with the Most Pesticides.” EWG's 2021 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Dirty Dozen, www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php.

2 “Health Effects of Pesticides.” Pesticide Action Network UK, 10 Mar. 2021, www.pan-uk.org/health-effects-of-pesticides/.

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About Dr. Alison R Maloof, ND
Dr. Maloof is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing at Atlas Naturopathic Health Center, a family healthcare practice in Rockport.  Dr. Maloof believes in treating her patients with a holistic approach, mapping a unique treatment plan based on your needs. She utilizes both modern and traditional therapies. Some of her featured services include: personalized nutrition, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, and professional-grade supplements. Dr. Maloof treats many conditions including: menopause, skin conditions, tick-borne diseases, autoimmune disorders, GI disorders, anxiety/depression, chronic conditions, men & women’s health, and more.

Dr. Maloof is accepting new patients at Atlas Naturopathic Health Center. She offers complimentary 15-minute phone consults to see if naturopathic medicine is the right fit for your needs.

For more information please visit https://www.atlasnaturopathic.com or call 207-466-9079.