Best Foods to Purchase Organically

If there were no money issues in the world, I would suggest you purchase all your food organically. Since this is not the case for the majority of Americans, it is a wise decision to purchase certain foods your family consumes organically. Organic foods are foods that have been planted, cared for, and harvested by completely natural methods. Conventionally growth methods use many pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Though the concentration of these chemicals in your food is small, over the many years the chemicals can make a difference to your body. The toxins cause damage to organs little by little and many of the results are not even known to us yet.

Below is a list of the most commonly purchased organic foods. These foods, mainly produce, contain very high level of chemicals when grown through conventional methods.

1. Peaches, nectarines and apricots. Peaches are considered the worst when it comes to the amount of chemicals used to produce these delicious fruits. They have the highest level of pesticides among all fruits.

2. Berries. This includes all berries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Since these fruits are very small the concentration of chemicals on each fruit is very high. They are also very hard to wash effectively because of the texture of the berry.

3. Bananas. Even though they have a tough peel which is not consumed, bananas are heavily sprayed during their trip to the United States. Bananas are a soft fruit and very susceptible to rot, so many unhealthy measures are used to maintain their freshness.

4. Lemons and limes. If you use lemon zest often, you may want to consider using organic lemons. The spray sinks deep into the pores of the skin and is very hard to wash off.

5. Tomatoes. Tomatoes have a very thin skin, so many of the chemicals used on the plants penetrate into the fruit. If you love to munch on cherry or grape tomatoes, purchase organic ones.

6. Green Beans. High levels of the chemicals acephate, benomyl, chlorothalonil, and methamidophos are contained in green beans. These chemicals have been shown to cause birth defects and damage brain and nervous system cells. If you are pregnant, be sure to purchase organic green beans to avoid these chemicals entering the baby's system.

7. Carrots. Since most children love carrots and eat them plentifully, these are a good choice to purchase organically. Remember that the concentration is higher in smaller bodies, so for kids organic is always best.

8. Milk and other dairy products. Many farmers are using hormones and antibiotics throughout their dairy herd. These chemicals are passed through the cow's milk and into our systems. The concerns with these chemicals are so great that many dairy farmers are beginning to think twice about their use.

9. Baby food. Many baby food companies are making organic baby food as well as conventional baby food. The infant's body is so young and developing so rapidly, that it is always best to use food that is chemical free. Another great option is to purchase organic produce and grind your own baby food!

10. Any food that you consume a lot of! If there is a certain fruit or vegetable that you eat every day, or can just not get enough of, I would suggest purchasing it organically.

Organic food is becoming so popular that almost every grocery store has a section devoted to natural health and other organic products. Do your research and decide what the best choices are for your family. You can never go wrong with an organic food purchase!