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The 2024 list of clean and pesticide-covered foods is out, and strawberries have topped the list once again. The Environmental Working Group reports foods with detectable levels of pesticides versus other natural foods that don't have them each year, and the top ones are labeled the 'Dirty Dozen' while the cleanest are the 'Clean Fifteen.' The Dirty Dozen this year consisted of numerous nonorganic fruits and vegetables: strawberries, leafy greens like spinach and kale, collard and mustard greens, grapes, peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, bell and hot peppers, cherries, blueberries, and green beans, respectively, while the Clean Fifteen was made up of carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, mushrooms, watermelons, cabbage, kiwis, honeydew melons, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, papaya, onions, pineapples, sweet corn, and avocados. In total, 254 pesticides were detected across the list on the 47,510 samples from 46 different fruits and vegetables that were tested, but the comparisons aren't exactly fair. Depending on the food, farmers may need to use more or less pesticide based on how many bugs like nibbling on it: for example, they need to spray less on avocados because bugs stay away from their thick skins, but more pesticide on strawberries because they are sweeter and more easily consumable to bugs searching for food. Consuming pesticides can lead to a slew of problems, including a higher cancer risk, brain and nervous system issues, birth defects, reproductive problems, and issues with various organs like the lungs, liver and kidneys. The most common pesticides found on the foods were fungicides, which are sprayed onto fruits and vegetables to prevent them from molding as they begin their journey to your home. However, don't stay away from these healthy foods completely-- they are vital to human health! To keep away from the pesticides, look for organic produce and make sure to thoroughly wash any fruits or vegetables that would end up in your mouth with water -- don't use soap or any other cleaner -- to remove as much pesticide from the food as possible.
Fact of the Day: Throwing snowballs is illegal in Topeka, Kansas.
Quote of the Day: Discipline automates habits which, in turn, determine your outcomes. (David Khalil)
Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Flora (noun)- Flora refers to all the plants that live in a particular area, time, period, or environment. It can also be used broadly to refer to plant, bacterial, or fungal life.
In a Sentence: Lisa admired the aquatic flora in the pond as she gazed out at the horizon.
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