A question I get often is "should I be eating organic?". My answer is "yes, as much as you can."

In order to be healthy, we need to detoxify properly and reduce the number of toxins we are exposed to on a regular basis.

Chronic low-level toxin exposure has been linked to an increased risk of neurological disease, diabetes, infertility, and even obesity. In the medical literature they are called neurotoxins, endocrine disruptors, and obesogens.

If you joined Tasha and I on the QNC Summer Refresh Detox, congratulations! You have taken one important step to reduce your risk of any of these chronic diseases. A bi-annual detoxification program is strategy #1.

Strategy #2 is to reduce exposure on a daily basis. Food and water are our primary exposure to toxins on a daily basis. That is why organic food is important.

But what if you can't always buy everything organic?

That is where the dirty dozen comes in! Every year the Environmental Working Group publishes their list of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen. The dirty dozen are the fruits and vegetables that are the most heavily sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals. These are the ones you should always try to buy organic. The clean fifteen on the other hand are the fruits and vegetables that are the least sprayed so they are the best options if you can't always buy organic.

Here is this year's list:

Now I would love to hear from you? Do you have any tips for people who want to eat organic on a budget? Please leave a comment below. Don't forget there are only two more editions of Doctor as Teacher Tuesday left this summer. I will be back in your inbox again until September!