Apples Top This Year's Dirty Dozen List


Updated 06/13/11 5:28 PM · Posted by · 3 comments

EWG 2011 Dirty Dozen, Clean 15 List

Could an apple a day mean more, not fewer, trips to the doctor's office? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released its annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists today, and the report shows that apples are among the most pesticide-laden fruits on the market. According to the environmentalist group, apples — the country's most popular fruit after bananas — have the highest composite levels of Read more

Strawberries With a Side of ADHD?


Updated 10/14/11 11:50 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 8 comments

Pesticides Linked to ADHD

Not too sure that organic produce is worth the extra dough? This may change your mind. It looks like scientists in the US and Canada may have found a connection between pesticide exposure and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Researchers tested 1,000 kids, ages eight to 15, and analyzed their urine for traces of pesticides. They found that 119 of the participants had signs of ADHD. Read more

What the Experts Won't Even Eat


Updated 02/27/11 2:19 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 28 comments

Foods Experts Warn Against

Grocery shopping can be a daunting task. That's why a recent article from Prevention magazine really caught my eye. The magazine asked experts who work in the field of food safety what they avoid eating at all costs, and though some of their answers were things I already knew, others were pretty eye opening. Here are a few items to think twice about the next time you're out buying Read more

When to Buy Organic


Updated 10/14/11 11:49 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 5 comments

What Foods You Should Buy Organic

I like to think most of us would like to buy local and organic foods 100 percent of the time, but it means paying extra, which a lot of us can't always do. A good compromise is choosing organic when it makes the most sense for our health. Here's our recommendation on foods to buy organic whenever possible due to high pesticide contamination, as well as those foods you can opt for conventional to Read more

Are You Willing to Accept the Occasional Bug in Produce?


Updated 04/04/09 10:27 AM · Posted by partysugar · 46 comments

Are You Willing to Accept the Occasional Bug in Produce?

Yesterday I read an interesting article on Gourmet's website that discusses an increase in spiders found in packages of grapes. As more and more farmers stop using pesticides and start growing organic, insects like spiders act as a natural pest control. The problem comes when the consumer discovers a bug in their home kitchen. While I'm a fan of organic produce, the thought of almost popping a Read more

A Pesticide Produce Guide For Your Pocket


Updated 03/23/09 10:07 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 5 comments

Environmental Working Group's Printable Pesticide Produce List

To buy organic or not to buy organic? Take a page (literally) from the Environmental Working Group, a health advocacy group consisting of scientists, engineers, policy experts, and lawyers whose mission is to expose threats to our environment. In addition to uncovering big environmental health threats, the EWG works to find small solutions, too. One of those is to help you avoid produce that is Read more

12 Foods With High Amounts of Pesticides


Updated 06/15/10 10:24 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 20 comments

12 Foods With High Amounts of Pesticides

With all this talk about getting our daily servings of fruits and veggies, we may forget about other concerns on those foods aside from nutrients: pesticides, some of which have been classified as cancer-causing agents. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies so I do my best to avoid pesticides but some foods have more than others, and it's hard to keep track. In an effort to make your next trip to Read more

Not So Peachy: Pesticides and Peaches


Updated 10/31/10 12:24 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 13 comments

Not So Peachy: Pesticides and Peaches

One of my favorite summer fruits is the peach. When I bite into a perfectly ripe peach, I am in heaven. I just read a new report on pesticides and produce put out by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They listed peaches as having the highest pesticide load out of 42 fruits and vegetables they tested. The EWG, a not-for-profit research group, ranked popular produce based on the results of Read more

Another Reason To Eat Organic: Vitamin C


Updated 04/29/07 1:48 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 9 comments

The belief that pesticides do not have an effect on nutrients in foods, is being seriously challenged. Recent news from an EU funded project has found that organic fruits contained more Vitamin C than their non-organic counterparts. Specifically researchers found that organic carrots, apples and peaches contained higher levels of vitamin C and flavonoids, an antioxidant. While last week, U.S. Read more

Valentine's Day - Give Organic Flowers


Updated 02/13/07 10:00 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 1 comment

Valentine's Day - Give Organic Flowers

Giving flowers has become such a tradition for Valentine's Day, but just because you may be single, doesn't mean you can't take part in the fun. I always send my best friend flowers on Valentine's Day, because let's face it, your best friend is always there for you and you do love her - isn't that what it's all about? You can also buy yourself flowers too, but you may want to think about buying Read more