As part of my practice, it has always been important to me to educate patients on how they can better care for themselves so they lead happier, healthier lives. Aging gracefully requires a total body, mind, spirit commitment, and in my office we try to direct you in ways that help support your goals in these areas.
An area people often neglect when thinking about their aging is their diet. There is so much truth to the adage “you are what you eat”. When we introduced Wellness into our practice years ago, it was to help our patients work on their health and balance from the inside out. As a result, we’ve been able to impact the aging process at the micronutrient level, and improve overall quality of life in many of our patients’ lives.
As the importance of Wellness has grown in our office, I too have had the opportunity over the years to improve my own internal health and well being. One piece that I have really focused on implementing in my household with my children is avoiding “The Dirty Dozen”. If you are unaware of “The Dirty Dozen”, it is a verified list that is published by the Environmental Working Group annually, documenting the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues. An alternate to this list is referred to as “The Clean 15”. These are conversely the 15 fruits and vegetables with the least pesticide residues. It is a great place to start when thinking about implementing organic practices as part of your lifestyle. It gives you the 12 items you should try to always buy organic when possible, and the 15 foods that can safely be shopped for conventionally. It’s a great way to save money as a family while still making healthier choices.
My family and I have used this list as a guide for over 5 years and love it! Here is the current listfor 2015. I hope that you and your family benefit from it as mine has. Feel free to check out the EWG’s website for more information and to see more about the good work they are doing to keep us informed!
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2015 Dirty Dozen
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherry Tomates
Cucumbers
Grapes
Spinach
Snap Peas – imported
Potatoes
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2015 Clean Fifteen
Avocados
Pineapple
Sweet Corn
Cabbage
Sweet Peas
Onions
Asparagus
Mangoes
Papaya
Kiwi
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Sweet Potatoes
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