Should You Avoid Dirty Foods?

No one wants dirty foods. Before we shy away, what are dirty foods? A little dirt can be washed off, but dirty foods encompass much more. Recently I discussed how kale landed on 2019’s “Dirty Dozen” list. What is that list, and should we have concerns? Should these foods be eliminated from our diets?

Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization focused on health and transparency in consumer product labeling, releases lists of the most and least pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables. These are referred to as EWG’s Dirty Dozen for 2019 and EWG’s Clean Fifteen for 2019.

EWG’s Dirty Dozen for 2019 include the following, in order: strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, and potatoes. Some produce may come as a surprise. Most of these fruits and vegetables had residue of two or more pesticides. Kale and spinach averaged 1.1 to 1.8 times as much pesticide residue by weight than other crops.

So which fruits and vegetables are safer when it come to pesticide content? The EWG’s Clean Fifteen for 2019 include avocados at the head of the list followed by sweet corn. Less than one percent of these two products had any detectable pesticides. More than 70 percent of the remaining list; pineapples, frozen sweet peas, onions, papayas, eggplants, asparagus, kiwis, cabbages, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushrooms, and honeydew melons had no pesticide residues. View the entire listing of both lists at the EWG’s website.

Does this mean to avoid foods listed on the dirty list? Fruits and vegetables are significant contributions to the diet. It would be a mistake, health wise, to discontinue these foods. For instance, strawberries are low in calories yet have high levels of flavonoid phytochemicals that can deter onset of cancer, aging, inflammation, and neurological diseases. Strawberries are also excellent sources of vitamin C plus A, E, and B-complex vitamins which have powerful antioxidants.

The modified list below from MedlinePlus summarizes how to protect yourself and family from pesticides on fruits and vegetables.

• Wash hands with soap and water before preparing food.
• Wash produce when ready for use. Washing before storing degrades the quality of most fruits and vegetables.
• Wash produce even those for peeling since chemicals or bacteria may transfer to the inside when peeled or cut.
• Rinse all produce under cool running water for at least 30 seconds.
• Buy a produce wash product or use a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda in two cups of water. Avoid washing foods with dish soaps or detergents that can leave inedible residues.
• Pat produce dry with a clean towel after washing.
• Discard outer leaves of leafy vegetables such as lettuce. Rinse and eat the inner part.
• Eat organic sources of foods grown with approved organic pesticides, especially for those fruits with thin-skins. Eating more organic foods may lower risks of cancer compared with individuals who do not eat organic foods.

These guidelines can help reduce exposure to pesticides yet allow continued enjoyment and healthful benefits from susceptible “dirty foods.” When you weigh the odds, the nutrients these foods contain may outweigh harm if you follow precaution in using. Eat well, eat healthy.

 

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Making Sense Out of Nutrition Nonsense

Rarely does a day go by without nutrition articles catching my attention. Some explore new research in varied topics. Many regurgitate information with a new twist reported decades ago. As a professional dietitian nutritionist, articles should make sense to me, and if not, maybe its nutrition nonsense. No wonder the public is confused.

Headlines tantalize readers with everything from fried Twinkies to cures from horrible diseases by eating certain foods. Where is the truth, and what can consumers believe? Sadly to say, a few qualified professionals tout foods and products for all the wrong reasons―money.

I don’t know if fried Twinkies still exist. Hopefully, they have met their demise. Because of their high-fat high-sugar content, they’re not recommended by anyone with common sense. On the other hand, valid research continues to enlighten us about healthy foods that may impact cancer development. Some food choices increase the probability of cancer, while other types of foods help the body avoid invasion. And it isn’t just cancer. Research proves relationships between certain types of foods and heart disease. Recent studies have advanced discovery of foods that could thwart the onset of such conditions as Alzheimer’s Disease. These are important issues to all of us, especially when genetics causes a greater propensity for certain disease conditions.

Separating nutrition sense from nonsense isn’t easy. Think back to the many products labeled with eye-catching appeal to let you know it is free of cholesterol, or more recently, gluten-free. Do advertisers have the best interest of consumers in mind, or are they focused on increased sales? Certainly, if you need foods with no cholesterol or gluten-free, having it boldly printed on the front helps. But really! The majority of the population does not need gluten-free products. Gluten, like cholesterol and many other substances, may not be tolerated by some individuals. But for most of us, foods containing these materials aren’t harmful.

A recent exaggerated headline proclaimed,“Kale is a Surprise on 2019’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ List.” Well, not really. Acclaimed as one of the greatest foods for health promotion, who wouldn’t want to know why kale has fallen into disfavor? The truth of the article? Kale, like most of the fresh produce we buy, is subject to contamination through harvesting, processing for market, and shipping and handling all along these steps. Yes, kale is exposed to everything from dirt, sometimes pesticides, possibly human waste, plus a myriad of other contaminants. But does that lessen its nutritive value? Caution must be taken with all fresh produce and washed thoroughly, but that’s no excuse to eliminate it from the diet.

The next time you read an astounding news headline about foods and nutrition, take time to read beyond the first paragraph. If truth is important to you, check out reliable sources to verify the most recent claim.

Food is what we eat. It’s necessary to nourish our bodies. Don’t take the latest gimmick as factual. Make sense of what is touted and ignore the nonsense.

I would love to hear your concerns and responses. If you have a question about healthy foods or especially weight-loss diets, let me hear from you. I will make every effort to get the facts―nothing but the facts to make sense from the nonsense.

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