The Facts on GI

So what is GI? The Glycemix Index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrate containing foods, based on their effect on blood glucose levels.

Foods with a low GI keep you satisfied longer and provide a longer lasting source of energy. They are the complex carbohydrates. They do this because foods with low GI take longer for the body to process and digest, which results in more steady blood sugar levels.

Research has shown that low GI foods can have benefits for health in a number of ways, including the following:

• Feel full for longer
• Maintain concentration levels
• Contributes to a healthy heart

Choose foods at each meal that contain complex carbohydrates, such as less-processed whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.

Your body will love you for it!

Pesticide Levels in Vegetables and Fruits

Once again. Dr. Mercola has done what he does so well, he has highlighted the importance of making informed decisions when it comes to your vegetables and fruits. This recently updated research, from the Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/sites/foodnews/release.php )
scores 43 common fruits and vegetables for pesticide levels.

I have listed the top 20 (foods that have the highest pesticide levels) and the bottom 10 (foods that have the lowest pesticide levels).

The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies

RANK *** FRUIT OR VEGGIE *** SCORE

1 (worst) Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples 96
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4 Celery 85
5 Nectarines 84
6 Strawberries 83
7 Cherries 75
8 Lettuce 69
9 Grapes - Imported 68
10 Pears 65
11 Spinach 60
12 Potatoes 58
13 Carrots 57
14 Green Beans 55
15 Hot Peppers 53
16 Cucumbers 52
17 Raspberries 47
18 Plums 46
19 Oranges 46
20 Grapes-Domestic 46


39 Asparagus 11
40 Sweet Peas-Frozen 11
41 Mango 9
42 Pineapples 7
43 Sweet Corn-Frozen 2
44 Avocado 1
45 (best) Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)

Note: A total of 44 different fruits and vegetables were ranked but grapes are listed twice because both domestic and imported grapes were sampled.

From the EWG website:

If you're concerned about food safety, you probably already look for organic produce at the supermarket. But if you can't always buy organic, you can still dramatically lower your family's exposure to chemical pesticides by choosing the least pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables with the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

The Shopper's Guide is a handy, wallet-size card that lists the "Dirty Dozen" most contaminated fruits and vegetables, as well as the 12 most "Consistently Clean" items. It's available for free download at http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php The newest edition of the Guide comes in both English and Spanish versions for the first time.

We are wise to minimize our exposure to pesticides. Go to the site and download the entire list of 43 vegetables and fruits, and start making informed, educated decisions on your fresh produce! Get Your Body Back!