11 things it's best to buy organic
So we wondered: What's really essential for our health? With help from our friends at Health.com, we've put together a list of what should be in your cart - and what you don't have to worry about.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Beef
"Research suggests a strong connection between some of the hormones given to cattle and cancer in humans, particularly breast cancer," says Dr. Samuel Epstein, professor emeritus of environmental and occupational medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Specifically, the concern is that the estrogen-like agents used on cattle could increase your cancer risk, adds Dr. Ted Schettler, science director at the Science and Environmental Health Network.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
More on organic beef
When you buy beef that's been certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), you're not only cutting out those hormones, you're also avoiding the massive doses of antibiotics cows typically receive, which the USDA says may lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in people.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Strawberries
If you can, also skip conventional peaches, apples, blueberries, and cherries, which are typically treated with multiple pesticides and usually eaten skins-on.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Cookware
Tests commissioned by the EWG showed that in just two to five minutes on a conventional stove top, cookware coated with nonstick surfaces could exceed temperatures at which the coating emits toxic gases. Switch to stainless steel, ceramic, or cast iron cookware.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Popcorn
"We don't know all of the hazardous effects of PFOA yet, but we have some evidence of a link to cancer, as well as to effects on the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems," says Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany.
Pick up an air-popper or make your popcorn in a pan on the stove top.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Yard pesticides
Healthier brands like BurnOut and EcoClear are made from vinegar and lemon juice, and are effective weed-killers.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
All-purpose home cleaners
Ammonia and chlorine bleach can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. And some cleaners contain phthalates, some of which are endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with normal hormone activity, says EWG senior scientist Dr. Becky Sutton.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
More about cleaning products
Go natural with the cleaner you use the most frequently and in the most places, such as kitchen-counter spray - look for brands approved by Green Seal or EcoLogo, two organizations that identify products that have met environmental label guidelines.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Water bottles
"For adults, the biggest concern with BPA is that it may increase the risk of breast cancer in women and reduce sperm counts in men," says Dr. Carpenter, who explains that BPA can leach out into the water in the bottle. To be safe, sip from an unlined stainless steel or BPA-free plastic bottle.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Food-storage containers
"The leaching is increased during heating, but it also leaches to a smaller degree even when cold foods are stored," Dr. Carpenter explains. Glass containers are your safest - not to mention planet-friendly - bet. Both Rubbermaid and Pyrex make glass ones with BPA-free plastic lids.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Milk
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
More about organic milk
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Celery
Lunder also advises buying organic bell peppers, spinach and potatoes because they scored high for pesticides, as well.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Tomato sauce
In 2009, Consumer Reports tested BPA levels in a variety of canned foods and found it in nearly all of the brands tested, suggesting that the chemical leaked in. "What can happen is that BPA in the lining can leach into the food," Walker explains.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic
Natural splurge
Though PBDEs were phased out of mattresses in 2005, they can still be found in other household items, including carpet padding and some electronics. The EWG advises opting for products that haven't been treated with brominated fire retardants and choosing less-flammable materials, such as wool.
More from Health.com: 5 surprising things you don't have to buy organic