Worried about pesticides? Then you might want to think twice before buying fresh produce, warns CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a recent two-part series called “Toxic America”. The report, which focused on findings from the non-profit public health organization Environmental Working Group, looked at the high amounts of pesticides used on commercially grown produce.

EWG reviewed thousands of reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration and determined that even after a thorough washing the majority of fresh fruits and vegetables still contain alarmingly high levels of pesticide residue. Not only that, but some types of produce—dubbed “The Dirty Dozen”—have even higher pesticide levels due to their softer, more absorbent skins. But, says EWG, buying the organic version of those twelve fruits and veggies can “reduce your exposure to pesticides by up to 80 percent.” Here is a list of The Dirty Dozen:

• Celery
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Domestic blueberries
• Nectarines
• Sweet bell peppers
• Spinach, kale and collard greens
• Cherries
• Potatoes
• Imported grapes
• Lettuce

Want to learn more about everyday toxins and how they can affect your health? Read Brenda Watson’s Detox Strategy today and take the quiz to find out how toxic you are!

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It’s something that none of us ever wants to hear: that every day our bodies encounter scores of dangerous toxins that can contribute to one of the deadliest diseases in history. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, and an alarming new report from the President’s Cancer Panel brings to light the shocking truth about the impact of environmental pollution on cancer rates in the United States.

The report, entitled Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now, outlines the sources and types of environmental contaminants and their significant impact on our overall health—emphasizing in particular the risk to pregnant mothers and infants. The PCP urges government officials to take a stronger position on regulating harmful chemicals and provides a comprehensive list of recommendations to help reduce our exposure to environmental contaminants. That list includes:

• Choosing organically grown foods to reduce exposure to pesticides and chemical fertilizers
• Eating free-range meats to reduce exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones and toxic runoff from livestock feed lots
• Buying environmentally-friendly home/garden products to reduce exposure to hazardous toxins
• Avoiding hard plastic bottles/containers made with endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as BPA
• Reducing exposure to occupational chemicals by removing shoes before entering the home
• Filtering home tap or well water to reduce exposure to numerous known/suspected carcinogens
• Storing and carrying water in stainless steel, glass or BPA- and/or phthalate-free containers
• Microwaving food in ceramic or glass instead of plastic containers

Still, this isn’t new news to natural health experts, who for decades have warned of the dangers of toxic exposure and advocated for stronger government regulations. The reality, however, is that of the more than 80,000 chemicals currently being used in the U.S. (with over 1,000 new chemicals introduced each year), only a few hundred have actually been tested for safety. Not only that, but according to the PCP report many known or suspected carcinogens are not regulated at all.

Says natural health and detox expert Brenda Watson, “I can’t stress enough how important it is that the danger of toxin exposure is finally receiving the attention it should. My hope now is that more people will take responsibility for their health—and the health of our planet—by taking steps to reduce toxins in their daily lives.”  

For more information about environmental toxins, their impact on your health, and how you can take steps to reduce your daily exposure, visit Brenda Watson’s Detox Strategy website.

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