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Organic Curiosity - Recommendations:

Is it worth the extra cost to buy organic?

Visit Cancer Center Recipes Just for You for healthy eating ideas.

THE DIRTY DOZEN

If you'd like to incorporate more organic food into your diet, spend your money where it counts. The following fruits and vegetables typically contain the highest pesticide levels when grown conventionally, according to the Environmental Working Group, which makes them a good place to start if you want to go organic. Wash all produce well before eating it, whether it's organic or not.

Apples
Kale
Bell peppers
Lettuce
Carrots
Nectarines
Celery
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (imported)
Strawberries

THE CLEAN 15

The following are fruits and vegetables that have been found to have the lowest levels of pesticides when grown conventionally. If you're budget-conscious, it may be less important to buy these organic.

Asparagus
Onion
Avocado
Papaya
Broccoli
Pineapple
Cabbage
Peas (sweet)
Corn (sweet)
sweet potatoes
Eggplant
Tomatoes
Kiwi
Watermelon
Mango

ORGANIC VS. NATURAL

Foods labeled "natural" aren't necessarily organically grown. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, foods labeled "natural" do not contain synthetic or artificial ingredients. They are minimally processed, but animals may be given antibiotics or growth enhancer

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