**(I have decided to break today’s post up into several days as there is simply too much information to cover in one post!)

As stated by Dr. Mercola recently, “Your body was designed to maintain equilibrium of health, and one of the basic cornerstones is your diet.”  How true!  As such, one of the easiest ways to rid our bodies of toxins is to make smart choices around the foods we eat.  An essential way of doing this is by eating lots of non-adulterated foods — that is, foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.  When you consume fresh, raw, non-adulterated food, everything you eat is considered to be a “superfood.”  It’s called a “superfood” because all of the nutrients in the food remain in tact and in abundance for our bodies to digest and assimilate.  These nutrients are important because our bodies need all of them in order for the non-adulterated foods to provide the health benefits you’d expect.  Some common superfoods are:  kale, broccoli and cabbage, winter squash, sweet potatoes, adzuki beans, black beans, sunflower seeds, and almonds.

Growing up in the suburbs of South Florida, I remember dinner coming from the freezer on most nights.  My mom worked 9 to 5 and my dad worked even later hours so convenience trumped nutrition.  Now as a mom myself I get it. (I love you, Mom! )  There are many nights I wish I didn’t have to prepare an organic, fresh meal from scratch.  I want to just grab a box of fish sticks, a pack of hotdogs, and some Kraft Macaroni and bon appetite!  There is a reason behind all of the effort.  In order to avoid preservatives, pesticides, colors, dyes, other chemical additives, and their subsequent health consequences, I have to make a little more effort.  So although cleanses and “detox” regimens are extremely helpful, we can’t depend on them alone to rid us of the toxicity we introduce into our bodies from our bad food habits.

Know When to Buy Organic:

Of course, when it comes to non-adulterated foods, buying organic all the time is the best choice if you want to avoid chemical toxins on your fruits and veggies (and even receive a higher nutrient content!).  But if you can choose only some to avoid, here are the “Dirty Dozen” of vegetables that tests have revealed contain the most pesticide residue:

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Cherries
10. Kale/ Collard Greens
11. Potatoes
12. Imported Grapes

Buy these vegetables organic unless there is no other option. I don’t buy them if I can’t find them organic. If you would like you can see the full list of pesticide residue on conventionally grown produce HERE. Also, if you’re wondering where to buy fresh, organic, local produce, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and/or your city’s farmers’ market is a GREAT resource.  Additionally, you can also check out LocalHarvest.org or eatwild.com for a list of local farms and businesses that are near you!

Say NO to Bags, Boxes, Cans, and Frozen Dinners:

Over thousands of years humans have tried new ways to preserve food to eat for later. Their lives depended on it. During the warmer months many families would spend their time canning and salting their foods to sustain themselves through the winter months. BUT the preservation methods nowadays have taken a chemical turn. Tomorrow I will write about the 10 major additives and preservatives that are making us TOXIC!

Until then try this quick, easy and fresh recipe tonight. It only takes about 20 minutes to make. It’s one of my favorite creations because it’s yummy and paired with a salad I don’t feel as guilty! Save time by getting someone to help you chop the veggies.

Margarita Ezekiel Pizzas and Salad

• 12 slices Ezekiel bread (this is the best bread I have found as it’s sprouted. Look in the freezer section. Use a substitute bread for now if you need to. No skipping out on the recipe b/c you’re missing one ingredient!)
• 6-8 tomatoes
• EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil)
• 1 red onion, sliced or chopped
• garlic (optional- if you don’t mind chopping it it’s a tasty and detoxifying addition)
• spinach (one of the dirty dozen- buy organic!)
• sea salt/pepper
• basil/ oregano
• cheese (we eat raw cheese but I understand this may be weird for others. Buy organic pasteurized if you don’t do raw!)

Directions: Lay out frozen bread slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add spinach leaves, then onion slices. Add 3 slices of tomato per slice. Trickle olive oil over the tomatoes. Don’t add too much as you don’t want to make them soggy! Add more spinach if you would like and then layer 2-3 cheese slices per slice of bread.  Cover top with basil/oregano and add a little more salt and pepper. Bake in oven on baking sheets on 350 degrees until cheese is melted or slightly browned. YUM!!!

Scrumptious  Salad:

Mixed Greens
Onion
Avocado
Sunflower sprouts (if you can find them! I buy them at Whole Foods)
Pecans or sunflower seeds (raw)
Apple or strawberries chopped into delicious pieces
Olive oil
Balsamic or apple cider vinegar for a dressing!

Toss together and serve with the pizzas.