- I’ve heard that certain fruits like peaches have higher levels of pesticides contained within the fruit. How concerned should I be about this pesticide exposure? – Heather H.

There are definitely fruits that have higher levels of pesticides. Peaches are at the top of the list, followed by apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. But when you’re worrying about pesticides, keep a couple things in mind: First, there are no long-term studies on the effects of pesticide exposure. (Although a large-scale study was just launched in March of this year, in California.) Second, unless you are able to eat all organic ingredients, pesticide exposure can be really hard to control. On the other hand, there are tons of studies about short-term health risks, which do suggest it is better to minimize our exposure. There is a thing called “pesticide poisoning,” which in mild cases includes symptoms such as nose, throat, and eye irritation, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, weakness, fatigue, dizziness… the list goes on. And severe pesticide poisoning can lead to death. Are you at risk of this by eating a piece of fruit every day? Of course not. Is it something that you should worry about at least a little bit over the course of your life? Probably. My recommendation is to get organic produce however often you can find it. If it’s too much to switch to all organic, you can compromise with the least contaminated produce: onions, avocado, frozen corn, pineapples, mango, asparagus, frozen peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, papaya. You can also buy an all-natural fruit and vegetable wash or make your own!

And above all else, fruit, even the kind with pesticides on it, will always be better for you than that donut or bagel you’re thinking about swapping in. It’s just that the organic kind is better for you and for the environment — and the more you buy it, the cheaper it’ll get, so spread the word!

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Meet our Nutritionist: After years of struggling with food and fitness, Adina Grigore finally decided to study holistic health, nutrition, and personal training. Since she knows how very confusing it all is, she now works with her clients to help them make small steps to take better care of themselves. She is also founder of sproutarevolution.com, a wellness company and completely all-natural and handmade skincare line. Follow her on Twitter @SproutWellness and connect on Facebook.

Have questions for our nutritionist? Send them in to editorial@impactdash.com with Ask a Nutritionist in the subject line.