Fresh fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet due to their many nutritional benefits. While they may be may good for you, the pesticides that are used on them are not. used to to prevent pest infestations and weeds, pesticides are primarily applied during the cultivation of crops and in some cases may leave behind residue. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) recently released their annual Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce aka The Dirty Dozen which lists the twelve foods with the highest concentration of pesticide residues. For the third year in a row, strawberries topped the list. A third of strawberry samples tested were found to contain 10 or more pesticides. Spinach occupies another year in the second spot with nearly twice as much pesticide residue by weight than any other crop on the list. High levels of pesticides are toxic and can present potential health risks, particularly to children and those with health issues. In studies, they have been show to create severe disruptions in nervous, endocrine, reproductive and immune system functions and increase the risks of cancer.
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