Organic Vs Non Organic

When buying some products, it may be worth the extra money to buy organic for health benefits.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are all around us, but most of them come with a few extras (pesticides). Organic fruits and vegetables are grown  without pesticides, irradiation and/or bioengineering.

While buying organic may be healthier than non-organic, not everyone can afford the organic food prices. How do you draw that line?

 List of Foods that are safe to buy non-organic:

Avocado:  They have thick skins which protect the fruit from pesticide build up.

Bananas:  The peel isn't eaten and that is where the pesticides stay.

Pineapple:  It has a rough and spiny skin that protect it from pests and pesticide residue.

Kiwi:  It's fuzzy skin acts as a barrier to pesticides.  

Mango:  Another fruit that has thick skin that protects it from pesticides, but you still want to rinse before use. 

Papaya:  Pesticide residue stays on the papaya skin

Asparagus: This veggie faces fewer threats from pests so less pesticide is needed.

Broccoli:  Just like asparagus this veggie faces fewer threats and needs less pesticide.

Cabbage:  Just like broccoli and asparagus this veggie uses less pesticide.

Onions:  As many others listed they don't see as many pest threats needing less pesticide.

Things to buy Organic:

Highest to lowest containing pesticide fruits:

Peaches, Apples, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Grapes, Pears, Raspberries, Plums, Oranges, Tangerine, Cantaloupe, Lemon, Honeydew, Grapefruit, Watermelon, Blueberries

Highest to lowest containing pesticide vegetables:

Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Lettuce, Spinach, Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans, Hot Peppers, Cucumbers, Cauliflower, Mushrooms, Winter Squash, Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes 

Meat:

Organic meat is free of antibiotics, added hormones, and human growth hormones (GMO). These animals are raised more ethically and humanely, meaning they are allowed to range freely and not confined to pens. In addition, the land that they eat from and live on uses no or less chemicals as well.

Dairy:

Non organic milk can contain small traces of pesticides. Since milk is a staple food for children, this is cause for concern. Organic milk is more pure. Organic dairies give their cows feed made from grain grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Growth hormone isn't allowed. Dairy animals are not given antibiotics, which could get into the milk.

Eggs:

Small amounts of pesticides may pass from chickens to eggs, and from there, on to the many foods prepared with them. Organic eggs com­e from birds that eat organic feed and are not pumped up with growth hormone or dosed with an­tibiotics.

Bottom Line:

Harmful chemicals are all around us -- in our bodies, in our environment and in our food. Maybe you can tolerate a little bit of pesticide, but, like anything else, you can overdo it. Experts say anything you eat in abundance should be organic in order to avoid overexposure to certain chemicals. While a little bit of pesticide residue in your favorite tortilla chips may be OK, if you eat a bag of them a day, you may be flirting with toxic buildup (not to mention obesity). Same with peanut butter, rib eye steaks, corn and so on. It's especially important to remember this rule for babies and children because their small body size means toxins can accumulate quickly.