EAT TO LIVE OR LIVE TO EAT?

Thought I would revisit a  personal goal -- eating heathy.  Nutritionally speaking, I'm trying to cut out all white foods, use only good fats in moderation, and eat minimal foods containing sugar.  It's a way to make better food choices.

Additionally, I need to pay closer attention to eating more antioxidants.

Eating antioxidants, however, presents it's own challenge.  Many of the most frequently found pesticide residues are known immunotoxins, neurotoxins, or endocrine disruptors which can have potentially damaging consequences to you or your families health and cognitive development.  In Europe, the foods that frequently exceed the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) are mandarins, oranges, grapes pears, appless, strawberries, beans, spinach, aubergines, and peppers.  

For those of you reading this from the U.S., here are the "dirty dozen" or most contaminated products:  peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries,pears, grapes, spinach, lettuce, potatoes, and carrots.

In all reality, our vegetables, fruits, meats, and dairy should be organic, thus eliminating all of these harmful substances.  It is more expensive and it doesn't have the same shelf life, but at least you don't have to worry about your children
developing ADHD, proven to be connected to pesticides by a study on 1,139 children from the general U.S. population and measured by the pesticide levels in their urine by the University of Montreal and published in the May 2010 edition of Pediatrics.

Another thing you can do to reduce your level of pesticides is to wash all produce in a vinegar: water (1:3) solution  (keep a spray bottle by the sink) and scrub it with a vegetable brush.  Peeling fruits and vegetables will also reduce some of the contaminants.

 In addition to organic produce,try to eat organic meat, fish, eggs, milk and cheese.

How do you eat to stay healthy?  Any good trips to share?