Produce: When to Buy Organic?

It's the moment I've been waiting for! Every year I look forward to the release of the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce. This handy, headache-relieving guide lists the top 12 most pesticide contaminated fruit and vegetables, aka, "The Dirty Dozen" along with the 15 least contaminated items, "The Clean Fifteen."

What should you do? If your item is on the Dirty Dozen, make every effort to buy organic. Clean Fifteen? Conventional is ok!

View the 2012 guide or download a PDF. Also keep in mind that the EWG actually rates 45 foods, so you may view the whole list - from dirtiest to cleanest - to further help your decision making in the supermarket.

You can also read about EWG's methodology and view FAQs regarding the guide. Of note: "Nearly all the studies on which the guide is based tested produce after is had been washed or peeled!"

Guest Post: The Importance Of Cancer Nutrition

The following is a guest post written by Jillian McKee:

Good nutrition is something like a stable foundation. It doesn't fix the problem, but it supports everything, making it easier for other things to go well. When it comes to cancer, good nutrition can improve the body's tolerance for treatments, aid in maintaining general health, help make recovery quicker, and help patients feel better.
What we eat determines how much energy our bodies have, and what resources they have available for rebuilding cells, fighting infections, and maintaining normal function. Because the process works fairly well even when we eat poorly, it is easy to underestimate the importance of good nutrition. When the body is fighting something, whether it be the effects of cancer treatment or the cancer itself, the effects of either good or bad nutrition are magnified.