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12 Foods You Don't Have to Buy Organic
The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policiesthat protect global and individual health, produces the
Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce
. It is based on the results of nearly 43,000 pesticide tests.Organic fruits and vegetables are by definition grown without the use of pesticides. Butsome find the expense of organic foods prohibitive.Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories in the
Guide to Pesticides
, thefollowing twelve foods had the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown.Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume:
Broccoli
Eggplant
Cabbage
Banana
Kiwi
Asparagus
Sweet peas (frozen)
Mango
Pineapple
Sweet corn (frozen)
Avocado
OnionOf the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories tested, these 12 fruits and vegetableshad the
highest pesticide load
, making them the most important to buy or grow organic:
Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
 Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes
 
Although the U.S. does not require GMOs to be labeled, you can still find out whether or not your produce is genetically engineered, by looking at its
.For example:
A conventionally grown product carries a 4-digit PLU code (Ex: conventionallygrown banana:
4011
)
An organic product carries a 5-digit code, starting with the number 9: (Ex: organic banana:
94011
)
A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) product has a 5-digit code, starting withthe number 8: (Ex: GE banana:
84011
)
In the past six years, the number of small farms has increased by 20 percent, to1.2 million
Farmers’ markets grew 50 percent from 2001 to 2006, to nearly 4,700 farms (and$1 billion in sales).
According to the most recent Farm Bill, small farmers can get up to 75 percent of their organic certification costs reimbursed, and some can also get crop insurance.Money has also been set aside to research organic foods and promote farmers’markets.
1,200 U.S. school districts have committed to buying fresh vegetables and fruitsfrom local farms.
The number of farms with community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs inthe U.S. grew from just 400 in 2000 to over 1,800 in 2008.www.foodroutes.orgwww.localharvest.orgwww.pickyourown.orgwww.eatwellguide.orgwww.slowfood.com www.cuesa.org www.realmilk.comwww.eatwild.comFish has heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, the fatty acid that nourishesyour brain. But mercury poisoning, toxins and preservatives have scared many peopleaway from eating fish. Here's what you need to know to eat fish and stay healthy
Wild Fish vs. Farmed Fish
You have probably heard the debate and are wondering,
"Do I choose wild fish or farm raised fish?" 
When it comes to your health, we recommend wild caught fish, and here's why: Farm raised fish generallyhave the same level of omega-3 fatty acids as wild fish, but when it comes to fat and calories, the farmraised fish have more.
4
 
Because farm raised fish don't have lots of room to swim and are prone to disease, they are oftengiven antibiotics as well as commercial dyes to give them a healthy color. Even the feed they are givenmay have toxins that are passed on to the consumer
.
5
 
 
While farm raised fish often costs less than their wild caught counter parts, the health risks and lack of flavor truly don't merit buying such an inferior product. Having said this, however, there are many aqua-culturists that operate responsibly and you can eat the fish from these farms without sacrificing your healthor that of the planet.
Fish To Eat
 Now that you know more about fish, here are our recommendations for the healthiest fish on the market.
Omega-3 Rich Fish to Eat:
 
Salmon
Halibut
Tuna
Cod
Sardines
Anchovies
Fish To Avoid
Swordfish
Shark 
Tilefish
King mackerel
White (albacore) tuna
Warm water fish like orange roughy
Shellfish like clams, lobsters, oysters, shrimp and scallops
Fish whose color has been preserved with dyes
Farmed fish (unless from a responsible aqua-culturists)
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