If you like to make healthier decisions for the environment and your diet, you may want to spend a little extra on organic produce.
Note that some vegetables
and fruits have fewer chances of getting contaminated with residues from pesticides. Therefore, if you like, you can purchase them conventionally while sticking to your budget. However, there are some food items that you must buy organic from the high-priced section at the grocery store, while some veggies and fruits do not require additional protection.
Here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you don’t need to purchase organic, helping you to save more money while keeping you healthy.
Asparagus
Asparagus is a vegetable that has the slightest chance of containing pesticide residue. Although asparagus does not have a protective husk or peel, it is still unlikely to contain any residue from pesticides.
This spring vegetable is a cousin of garlic and onion and is packed with essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, K, and E. It is also a great source of folate, which helps repair DNA in the body and produce chromium and healthy cells.
Onions
Onions have the lowest amounts of pesticide residue among all the vegetables and fruits in the grocery store. In addition, since the outer flesh of the onion is inedible, you may not get any exposure to pesticide residue.
A study conducted by the Environmental Working Group revealed that over 90 percent of onions had no traces of residue from pesticides.
Avocados
Here’s great news for all the guacamole lovers! Avocados are considered to be one of the cleanest fruits of all. Furthermore, these are the safest fruits that you can opt to purchase non-organic. Their thick outer skin protects against pesticides by preventing their entry into the edible fruit inside.
Sweet Corn
Sweet corn has a protective husk that protects the inside kernels from potential contamination by pesticides. However, some sweet corn is grown from genetically engineered seeds, and if you want to avoid genetically engineered crops, you should opt for organic corn.
Pineapple
Pineapples are one of the cleanest fruits you will find at the market. Since pineapples have a spiky, tough peel, you don't necessarily have to fret about the fruit getting contaminated by pesticides.
Kiwis
Kiwi is another pesticide-free product and doesn’t need you to pay an organic premium. This fruit is usually grown without any pesticides, so purchasing organic kiwi is not necessary at all. The tough peel of the kiwi protects the fruit inside from pesticide contamination.
Bear in mind that purchasing produce that looks the cleanest and freshest is crucial to avoid health hazards.