Our first Clean Living Lecture Series went amazingly. I thought I would blog the highlights of our talk so that those who were unable to make it would be privy to some of the information discussed.
Here are our top 10 recommendations for eating your way to a cleaner life:
- To decrease pesticide exposure it is best to eat the following produce organic: peaches, strawberries, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, blueberries, kale/collard greens, potatoes, cherries, spinach, and imported grapes.
- Peel or acid wash your veggies and fruit to remove any pesticide residue on organic and especially non-organic foods. Acid Wash: use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water to wash your veggies and fruit.
- Any of the following foods if not labeled organic or non-GMO are most likely genetically modified: corn, soy, canola, cottonseed oil, alfalfa, squash, bell peppers, and Hawaiian papayas.
- Avoid the following seafood: Swordfish, Shark, Tuna (fresh/frozen/canned), Halibut, Catfish (farm-raised), Orange roughy, Chilean sea bass, shellfish, Cod and Haddock frozen fish sticks, and anything wild Atlantic or farm-raised. The seafood listed is often contaminated with mercury, PCBs, and or cadmium. Instead consume the following safer fish: Wild Alaskan salmon, wild tilapia, wild Alaskan canned salmon, flounder, and Pollack.
- Meats and poultry should be eaten organic or avoided as they are often fed genetically modified and pesticide-laden food.
- Non-organic dairy products, especially butter, cow’s milk, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese are contaminated with pesticides, so either avoid dairy all together or eat organic dairy in small amounts.
- Purchase organic nuts, grains, and beans as pesticides have been shown to be detectable.
- Eating local organic is best. 100% organic or certified organic means all ingredients are organic. Check out the local farmers’ markets. It is a great way to decrease our carbon footprint. You can also shop at Whole Foods but not all foods at Whole Foods are safe and organic.
- Make brown rice a staple in your diet as it helps to eliminate some of the fat-soluble toxins like pesticides.
- Consume organic green foods like broccoli, spinach, and kale on a regular basis as the chlorella helps the body to eliminate toxins.