Dirty Dirty Grapes!

If you think running your fruit or veggies under your sink faucet is going to get rid of all those nasty pesticides, residues and just plain dirt, think again! My grandmother and mom loves using Shaklee's Basic H2 as a fruit and vegetable wash. So I thought I would finally give it a try!

My grapes and Basic H2

This is a picture of the grapes after they were rinsed with water and then I let them dry. You can see all of the residue on the grapes.

I added 2-3 drops of Basic H2 to the bowl and then filled it with lukewarm water.

I added the grapes to the water and swished them around a little bit and now you can see the disgusting, dirty water. Let me remind you that these results are after the grapes have already been rinsed in water! The pictures don't do it justice but the water was sooo dirty and gross!

This is really disgusting! After I dumped out most of the water from the bowl, there was so much dirt and debris on the bottom of the bowl. Look at the photo below! To think that is what we digest when we don't thoroughly wash our fruits and veggies!

Here are the Basic H2 washed grapes! Don't they look gorgeous! I'm not even stretching the truth in the slightest when I tell you that the fruits and veggies actually taste so much better after being washed with Basic H2. Once you try Basic H2, you will never go back to using traditional cleaners again!

The Dirty Dozen

The Dirty Dozen Fruits & Vegetables and

When To Buy Organic

DIRTY DOZEN - Buy These Organic

Produce with the highest levels of pesticides:                                 

1. Celery

2. Peaches

3. Strawberries

4. Apples

5. Blueberries

6. Nectarines

7. Bell Peppers

8. Spinach

9. Kale

10. Cherries

11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (imported)

CLEAN 15 - Lowest in Pesticides

1. Onions

2. Avocado

3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangos
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon

Do you know that over 70% of the food we eat is

Genetically Modified?!

                                      

Why Is Organic Usually More Expensive?

If money wasn't a factor, i'm sure we would all buy organic food. Organic food is generally more expensive because it is not genetically modified, food like produce and chicken portions are generally smaller because the food has not been exposed to growth hormones, and farmers and growers spend more time managing and growing their crops because organic fruits and vegetables are not subjected to gasses that speed up growing times like in some traditional produce.

Does Organic Food Really Make A Difference?
Scientists are finding more and more that pesticide exposure can lead to health issues, especially in unborn babies and childhood. As America continues to introduce more and more pesticides, we are starting to see the long-term effects of pesticides.

Can't I just wash them off or peel them?
For some fruits and vegetables, this does help, although it may not eliminate pesticides inside the produce and sometimes, the skin contains the most nutrients.

Tips for buying organic:
1. Buy in bulk. You can often buy organic beans, rice, flour and more and it is much cheaper than buying it pre-packaged. I love Henry's Market for this and produce!
2. I have found Trader Joe's to have some great prices on organic foods. For me, their produce is usually expensive, but a lot of their organic food options are priced great.
2. Buy in-season and check out your local Farmer's Market.
3. Check out the store brand organic options, many stores are now producing their own organic foods.
4. Pick what is most important to you when buying organic. I can't buy everything organic, so my must haves are organic milk, some fruits and veggies, most grains and organic chicken when possible.
5. Look for non-GMO (genetically modified organism) products in additional to organic.

Check out this blog for money saving tips and coupons when buying organic:
http://organiconadime.blogspot.com/

*The Dirty Dozen List and some information came from Environmental Working Group (EWG). Photos by br3akthru: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1341