The new Dirty Dozen:
12 foods to eat organic and avoid pesticide residue

By Dan Shapley


Fruits and veggies are an essential part of a healthy diet, but many conventional varieties contain pesticide residues.

And not all the pesticides used to kill bugs, grubs, or fungus on the farm washes off under the tap at home. Government tests show which fruits and vegetables, prepared typically at home, still have a pesticide residue.

You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by as much as 80% if you avoiding the most contaminated foods in the grocery store.

To do so, you need the latest info from the why the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of foods most likely to have high pesticide residues. Since 1995, the organization has taken the government data and identified which type of produce has the most chemicals.

This year, celery takes the number one spot and both blueberries and spinach make an appearance (displacing lettuce and pears).

The best way to avoid pesticide residue on foods is to buy organic produce — USDA rules prohibit the use of pesticides on any crop with the certified organic label.

Here’s a closer look at the 2010 Dirty Dozen:

1. Celery
Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals (64 of them!) that are used on crops. Buy organic celery, or choose alternatives like broccoli, radishes, and onions.

2. Peaches
Multiple pesticides (as many as 62 of them) are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.

3. Strawberries
If you buy strawberries, especially out of season, they’re most likely imported from countries that have less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and pineapples.

4. Apples
Like peaches, apples are typically grown with poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Tests have found 42 different pesticides as residue on apples. Scrubbing and peeling doesn’t eliminate chemical residue completely, so it’s best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, bananas, and tangerines.

5. Blueberries
New on the Dirty Dozen list in 2010, blueberries are treated with as many as 52 pesticides, making them one of the dirtiest berries on the market.

6. Nectarines
With 33 different types of pesticides found on nectarines, they rank up there with apples and peaches among the dirtiest tree fruit. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include, watermelon, papaya, and mango.

7. Bell peppers
Peppers have thin skins that don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They’re often heavily sprayed with insecticides. (Tests have found 49 different pesticides on sweet bell peppers.) Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include green peas, broccoli, and cabbage.

8. Spinach
New on the list for 2010, spinach can be laced with as many as 48 different pesticides, making it one of the most contaminated green leafy vegetable.

9. Kale
Traditionally, kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, asparagus, and broccoli.

10. Cherries
Even locally grown cherries are not necessarily safe. In fact, in one survey in recent years, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries. Government testing has found 42 different pesticides on cherries. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include raspberries and cranberries.

11. Potatoes
America’s popular spud reappears on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list, after a year hiatus. America’s favorite vegetable can be laced with as many as 37 different pesticides. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include eggplant, cabbage, and earthy mushrooms.

12. Grapes
Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Only imported grapes make the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape’s thin skin. Remember, wine is made from grapes, which testing shows can harbor as many as 34 different pesticides. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and raspberries.

Original page HERE

Hi!Ines!  Your blog is always very interesting and gives me courage. Well…I have a question. I have trauma from my father that I had to be good girl, I couldn’t say my opinion. Because my mother passed away when I was 12 years old. When she passed away,I couldn’t cry because everyone cried a lot. I thought I had to help my father, I told myself that don’t cry, you should be a good girl.

But I found out my trauma after giving birth. Normally, it is normally very happy after giving birth, life with my husband. But I feel lonely…
You know that sometimes I get cross with my daughter, and after that I always cry…and feel lonely,and hate myself.

I think that first step is accept myself. To accept myself,what should I do? Also I want to forgive my dad…

Thank you very much for reading.
ojala k tenga buen suerte!!!

un besito,
Yukie



Dear Yukie,

I am so sorry to be late to reply to you, but I am so busy these days.
Please try to just look ahead of you, and my best advise would be to see a conselor, someone who can hep you pull out all your sorrow. You need to talk to somone about your feelings or they will not leave you. Maybe you should wrote on a peice of paper everything you have tried to hide for years and then just burn that paper after reading it once or twice. This is what i did and it helped me feel better and to move on with my life. Also, you should forgive your Father because it is very unhealthy to be angry with somebody. happiness starts with peace in your mind.

Think about your little Princess, your daughter, make her laugh, make her experience feelings of happiness. Always try to compliment her and to encourage her. Never be negative, just think positive and your life will turn from sad grey to bright orange, the color of the sun.

Let me know in a month how you feel. Rent comedy movies and watch them with her, if she is old enough, and laugh as much as you can, it is the best in life.

Much love beautiful and sweet Yukie. Tu tambien ojala que todo te vaya bien y dentro de poco.

Un abrazo, Ines

On my way to the recording studio… gonna be a LONG day!

I chose my outfit (jacket, top & pants) from the Gucci Spring-Summer 2010 collection.

As my DVD is about self-production for woman of all ages, I did my own styling: clothes, hair & make-up. We shot for 9 hours straight. The studio is where the most famous TV show Smap Smap is filmed.

I have a group of 24 pre-selected trainees. The youngest trainee is 19 years old and the more mature one is 67 years old. I selected women of all ages, with very different background, body type and personality. Some are very conservative or shy, others are more boyish and I even have a 41 years old truck driver! Some trainees never ever wore make-up or walked with heels at all. One of my trainee is the typical grand-mother whom you see watering her plants and flowers in her garden every morning!

I am currently in the process of producing a series of 8 DVDs in total. Together with a How-To-Do complete manual which includes weekly homework. It will be a 8 week and progressive training to do at home. It comes in a A to F program (Attitude, Behavior, Communication, Diet, Exercise, Fashion). It is designed to offer any woman a chance to become the best of herself in term of confidence, glamor, sophistication, body-sculpture, sensuality and social skills. The theme will change weekly also it will never become monotone and following the program will be intense and super-exciting. I talk openly about any subject including life-ambition, self-respect, making love, seducing, competitiveness etc.

Each week both the trainees and the viewers will be transforming dramatically from the inside as well as how they look and this will be a tremendous stimulus to keep going and growing in confidence and beauty.

Also be ready to be transported into a world of happiness, fashion, beauty. Also I know for sure that you will be thrilled to virtually entering our world each day throughout the warm and stimulating visuals of the DVDs set.

The set has been designed by Yoko Funabashi who regularly designs studio sets for the most successful TV ad-campaigns. We totally connected the first time we met, I explained what i had in mind for the set to host the filming within the next 3 months of shooting. I show her fabrics, colors, designs, furniture pieces, I invited her into my home so that she could understand my way of living, she looked at my closets, my favorite decoration items including the unique lightning that i chose for my home. She looked at my chairs, at my collection of colorful pillows everywhere. She checked how I like to organize my clothes, to display my accessories, what king of styling tools I use in my daily life, for example my hair dryer, combs and more. I took pictures from Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar magazines to show her layout ideas and after a few hours together she promised me that she would draw my studio-set withing the next 10 days, and she did, and how so perfectly, she is truly amazing!

Happy week everyone!

The

Photos by Marven Payne, he was there with us at the concert and he took these amazing pictures while Gaga was performing on stage.

See his website at www.emergejapan.com

Did you know that Gaga’s stylist was raised in Japan? No surprise here….!

YESTERDAY, during diner at my husband’s Ken family. From left: Nobuji, me, Emiko (my Mother-in-law), my sweetheart Masae, Mikie (Nobuji & Masae Mom) and Rika (Nobuji’s wife).

Rika is making a little angel, a baby is slowly growing inside her tummy, I cannot wait to be auntie!

Masae do not forget to buy the multi-vitamins and to take it twice a day…. Nobuji, sorry for rubbing my feet against yours under the table, thinking it was Ken’s feet!!!! So embarrassing…… LOL

Katsumoto Otosan, we missed you among us yesterday, but I know you were happy to see us happy from the skies.

I love you all. Gonna run to shoot my second DVD today!! It is going to be a loooong day!!!

Outside Mikie san ’s home, playing with my boys with our scooters. We competed twice speeding for a out 1 kilometer, and Luca won twice! It is good to be young!

So many good looking people in one room last night, amazing!

Check my friend Mai’s blog for details at http://maisassygirl.blogspot.com/2010/04/party-report-leslie-kee-super-tokyo.html

Shooting at my sweet home, in France, yesterday. Right side, my sister Mimi. She is an amazing hair-stylist and she hosted a fashion shoot  for Mod’s Up at home. Mimi style people’s hair at home, by appointment only. She is incredibly talented. She is one of these people who can relook anyone in an instant, she envisions how a person could transform, shine and then she cuts, colors and style. Tthe result is unique always. She did the asymetrical haircut of Hiroko Mima that made her instantly famous in Japan. And she fly to Tokyo often to style my talents, friends or winners.

If you want to contact my sister Mimi, you can leave a message on her French mobile at 06 22 44 59 42 for an appointment or advise.

I bought 5 wooden sculpted horses in the mountains of Thailand, Chiang Mai, while visiting with my family a few years ago.

The horses represent my family: Ken, Ines, Ben, Noa & Luca. They stand proudly in the middle of the green open garden as a decoration tool. This one with the roses is mine, the most feminine one!

I miss my farm in France and cannot wait to be there this summer. I will spend July & August with my boys. Many friends will be visiting us, as each year. This home is designed as a resort so that i can welcome many people at the same time. It was a farm where horses stables and winery were held and I transformed it in a warm, colorful, happy home for the summer holiday. The house can host up to 33 people!! The biggest bedroom includes 4 queen size beds, it was an attic to store the hay to fee the horses! My little paradise, my source in life.

I have always dreamt big and beleived I could make my dreams come true. I did, so can you! Believe in your dreams!

LAST NIGHT, I WENT WITH MY FRIENDS PABLO YANO AND ANDREA KEATS TO DISCOVER THE NEW AUDI COUPE WITH A SLIGHT SURPRISE… IT WAS ENTIRELY COVERED IN SMALL COLORFUL DOTS !

Question: What would bring the new hi-tech Audi navigational system side by side with the ancient Aboriginal Australia Tjukurpa country mapping system???

Why art of course!

Until the 10th of May 2010 the slick Audi ‘Iceberg’ Building in Shibuya Tokyo will be home to a unique exhibition of paintings, “Ingalimpa Tjuntu” – Singing songs, ‘We sing the country and that’s how we find the way’. The exhibition showcases the current and most spectacular painting works being created by Warlayirti Artists from Balgo, Western Australia.

In addition to the stunning contemporary art  hanging on the walls inside the stunning Iceberg building in the heart of Harajuku, you will be able to discover the ‘painted’ Audi!

The artists have been resident in Tokyo to paint the car for 10 days and additional artists have joined them for the opening last night. It was a learning opportunity of contemporary indigenous culture, to meet the artists and to be part of a unique cross-cultural event. Thank you Audi for being so active in Japan and to frequently bring interesting cultural experiences for us all to enjoy.

Also Dominique Boesh, the powerful & “force tranquille” * Audi President, has since the beginning, being so personally involved in hosting, even Mcing and has warmly greeted each guest at the company numerous events. Sincerely, I do no know any other President who has been so intensively present at company events. Dominique passion of excellency is contagious, he makes you understand and appreciate the Audi brand ever more. Chapeau!

Okay, now i will get a few liters of paint and get my artistic skills at work on my on Q5 !!! I am tired of seeing always silver cars on the streets of Tokyo. Wouldn’t it be fun to have the streets turning into a live-art gallery? (Like in the Philippines or in Mexico…)

Photos as always are taken by my beautiful photographer friend Andrea Keats.

* Force tranquille = quiet strength

With Mr & Mrs Mikimoto in the Prince of Dubai personal stables.

With my assistant Emiko Faye on the taxi-boat, going to have lunch at the Medina inside our hotel.

My husband Ken with Konishiki, his wife Chie and Mr Mikimoto inside the Royal stables.

Sheik Mohammed, Rulet of Dubai gave us a powerful and honest speech. His wife as well, she is truly impressive and articulate.

Asami Ferguson, Chie Konishiki, Maria H., Hiroko Mima, Toyohiko & Naoko Mikimoto, Emiri Miyasaka, during the welcoming party on the beach of the Burj Hotel, when we met

Sheik Mohamed, prince and ruler of Dubai and his beautiful wife, Her Royal Highness, Princess Haya.

Next morning for an early brunch at the race course Meydan.

On the boat of Sheik Mohammed, the second biggest privately own yacht in the world. He opened acess of his boat for the first time outside of his cloest friends and family. Unique experience indeed!

We all had lunch on the boat and all took see-planes to view Dubai from the sky!

My friends Sadami & Stephane Lafay. Stephane is the charismatic French President of TIFFANY in Japan.

The next day also, helicopters were taking off and landing non-stop to take guests to see Dubai from the sky. From the Burj Dubai hotel rooftop.Impressed? I was!

I will little by little post pictures from our mille et une nuits in Dubai…. (thousand & one nights)

In the desert for an Arabian night experience,

Meet my sweet friends: the Konishiki (Champion Sum0 wrestler, The Ishizaki (Magazine House Publishing Group President), The Mikimoto (Mikimoto Pearls), The Tsuji (renowed artist potter)

Bye for now!