12 Organic Foods That Are Not Financially Worth It

In any article on healthy eating, you will find a recommendation saying that you should prefer organic fruits and vegetables as they are free of pesticides.

This is a very valid concern, as several scientific studies have shown a direct relationship between the consumption of these substances and the development of very serious diseases, such as cancer.

However, organic food has one major drawback: the higher price. Fortunately, there are some fruits and vegetables that can be safely consumed in their regular versions, so it’s not worth spending more on the organic varieties. Find out what they are:

1. Onion

According to the EWG (Environmental Working Group), an American non-profit organization dedicated to studying the use of pesticides and other chemical additives, the onion is one of the vegetables with the lowest rate of pesticide contamination. So, you can consume the non-organic version without any problems.

2. Cauliflower

Cauliflower, from the cruciferous family, is rich in vitamins C, K and the B complex, as well as containing many important minerals such as manganese. And the best thing is that you don’t have to buy the organic version to enjoy these benefits: just choose a firm cauliflower, without dark or yellow spots and that has green leaves attached to the stem.

3. sleeve

In addition to being tasty and full of fiber, mango can be consumed in its traditional version without many problems. After all, according to the latest Anvisa report on the presence of pesticide residues in food, only 0.5% of the samples of this fruit posed any risk.

4. Asparagus

According to the EWG, asparagus does not attract many insects, so large amounts of pesticide are not used in its cultivation, which makes the non-organic version safe for us to eat.

5. Green corn

We can opt for non-organic green corn because the straw is an excellent barrier against the absorption of pesticides by the grains. So when that part is eliminated, the waste also goes away.

It is worth noting, however, that some varieties of green corn can be produced from genetically modified organisms. When in doubt, it is better to check the origin of the beans before opting for the regular version.

6. Eggplant

As in the case of corn, the secret to eggplant lies in its coating; however, in this case, the bark is very smooth, which makes it difficult for the pesticides to stick. As a result, you can save a little bit when making a delicious pâté or other dishes that use this ingredient.

7. Cabbage

Like asparagus, cabbage does not require the application of large amounts of pesticides, so you do not need to resort to the organic version – so much so that only 0.2% of the samples analyzed by Anvisa were contaminated. That is, excellent news for those who want to enjoy all the benefits of this vegetable!

8. Kiwi

The kiwi is not exactly cheap fruit, and the organic version can be very unaffordable financially. However, you can eat the traditional version without fear, as long as you remove the skin.

9. Melon

If some people already struggle to cut the melon skin, imagine the pesticides! Jokes aside, it is thanks to this thick outer layer that we can consume different varieties of non-organic melons without ingesting pesticides at the same time.

10. Papaya

According to Anvisa, only 0.8% of the papaya samples analyzed showed some risk related to pesticide residues. Again, the secret lies in the skin of this fruit, which preserves its pulp.

11. Avocado

If you’re a fan of guacamole, you can celebrate: you don’t have to buy organic avocado to enjoy all the vitamins, minerals, fiber and good fats that this fruit offers us. As you can imagine, just remove the shell and that’s it!

12. Banana

In addition to being an excellent source of fiber, potassium and vitamins C and the B complex, bananas can be consumed in their traditional version. According to the Anvisa report, the samples analyzed did not show significant levels of pesticide residues.

Are there any foods worth buying in the organic version?

Yea! Still based on the Anvisa report, it is better to give preference to the organic versions of pineapple and orange, as these fruits were contaminated by pesticides in, respectively, 5.0% and 12.1% of the samples. The explanation for this is that the bark of both is permeable to pesticides.

Now that you know which foods are most and least contaminated by pesticides, you can decide more wisely when it is worth investing in an organic version or not. In any case, remember to wash all your fruits and vegetables very well under running water and use a brush to help remove the residue.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.