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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You know the routine: Your clothes are dirty. You throw them in the washing machine. They come out clean…right? But what if your laundry detergent is hiding a dangerous toxin that can take a serious toll on your health and the health of your family? A recent study conducted by David Steinman of the Green Patriot Working Group asked that very question and found that of the 20 most popular laundry detergent brands (both conventional and “natural” products), 13 contained detectable traces of a toxic byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.

A known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), 1,4-dioxane is used in many popular cleaning and personal care products and has been linked to liver disease, cancer and other serious health conditions in humans. However, it is one of thousands of contaminants not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the study, the conventional brands were the worst offenders—with Procter and Gamble’s Tide® topping the list at 55 parts per million (ppm)—but even a couple of the natural brands were not entirely free of 1,4-dioxane. If anything, the information serves as a wake-up call for consumers nationwide to pay close attention to what might be hiding in the products we use every day.

Curious about your detergent? See the complete results of the study here. And be sure to visit Brenda Watson’s Detox Strategy for simple tips on how to reduce your exposure to harmful toxins.

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