In this episode, Joe Fier explores the ins and outs of reducing exposure to pesticides through smart produce shopping and cleaning. Drawing on the latest research from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Joe Fier clarifies which fruits and vegetables you should always buy organic (the "Dirty Dozen"), which are safer when conventionally grown (the "Clean 15"), and simple, effective ways to wash your produce at home. The episode also touches on hidden toxins in pantry staples, especially crucial for kids and those focused on detox or hormone support. Listeners get actionable steps to shop smarter, clean better, and support long-term health.
Topics Discussed
Understanding the "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" produce lists
Why some fruits and veggies have more pesticide residues than others
2025 updates: new additions to both lists
Cost-saving strategies for organic and conventional produce
Step-by-step guide to washing produce to reduce pesticide exposure
Myth-busting: What washing produce can and cannot eliminate
Hidden toxins in pantry staples like rice-based baby foods
The link between everyday toxins and chronic health issues
Simple action plan for shopping, cleaning, and tracking health
How to assess your toxin burden and personalize your health approach
Like what you heard? Screenshot the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists to make your next shopping trip easier! Don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and drop us a comment about your own strategies for minimizing toxins. Your journey to cleaner, healthier eating starts here—join us!
Disclaimer: MDLifespan PlasmaXchange protocols are designed to support general health and wellness. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided on this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new health program, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking prescribed medications.
Transcripts
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Shopping clean shouldn't feel like a chemistry exam.
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in this video, I'm gonna show you exactly what to buy organic, the
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things that you could skip and how to wash produce so you cut the
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pesticides without blowing your budget.
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Each year.
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EWG analyzes USDA Data and Flags two lists.
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So the first list is the Dirty Dozen.
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These are the produce with the highest amount of residues.
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And then the second one is the Clean 15, which are the produce
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with the lowest amount of residues.
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So in 2025, the latest study, it showed that 95% of the dirty dozen samples
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actually had detectable pesticides.
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And then, you know, you had blackberries over here that were showing 48 different
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pesticides that were picked up.
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And then potatoes often show chlorpropham, which is actually banned in the eu.
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The 2025 Dirty Dozen included these types of produce.
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You had spinach, strawberries, kale, mustard greens, and collard greens.
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You had grapes.
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Peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, apples, blackberries and new this
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year are blueberries and potatoes.
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So for kids, people on detox programs, supporting your hormones
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and preventing, and just avoiding all these toxins, you have to prioritize
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these and get organic whenever you can.
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So the 2025 list of the Clean 15 produce is where conventional
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is generally low risk.
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So almost 60% of these types of produce had no detectable residues.
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So that list includes pineapples, sweet corn, avocados, papaya,
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onions, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, watermelon, cauliflower, and
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then new to this list are bananas, mangoes, carrots, mushrooms, and kiwi.
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So as you're thinking about shopping, how do you actually do it?
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So step one: Always make sure that you're picking up that Dirty
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Dozen list in the organic section.
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is fill the rest of your cart with the Clean Fifteen conventional to
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save money and keep your exposure low.
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Now when you get back home, you gotta wash like a pro.
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Okay?
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So you gotta soak your produce
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5 to 10 minutes in a simple
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1 to 3 vinegar to water ratio.
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Then you're gonna scrub pretty gently with the vegetable brush.
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You're gonna rinse and then you're gonna dry
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ideally with filtered water as well.
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And then you want to store all this clean produce and dry it and
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properly put it in a place where it's going to avoid moisture, any
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kind of molds and recontamination.
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So a quick myth check, washing isn't actually gonna erase all of the systemic
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pesticides, but it can meaningfully reduce the surface residuals that
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you're gonna find on your produce.
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So every little reduction lowers your daily toxin load and is
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perfect for avoidance, which is something we should all be doing.
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So the big truth is also that hidden toxins live in pantry staples too.
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over 65% of rice-based baby foods contain arsenic.
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So you gotta be selective with the grain produce, especially for your kids.
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Pesticides are literally part of the toxin fingerprint that's driving up things
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like fatigue, immune stress, and even inflammation of all parts of your body.
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food is something daily that you gotta put inside your body and
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it's completely controllable.
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So you gotta make sure you're cleaning up all the inputs that you're putting
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into your body so you're gonna function better and have a lot more vitality.
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Alright, quick action plan for you here.
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So I wanna make sure that you have these lists screenshotted
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somewhere on your phone so it's easy when you're out there shopping.
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So make sure to either screenshot.
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Parts of this video or go to the blog post listed in the description where
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you can see all this written out, know what your dirty dozens are, so you're
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always buying the dirty dozen produce in the organic form, and then also
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on the other side for the clean 15.
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Make sure you're getting those, at least in the conventional form.
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You could save some money that way.
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Also, remember to wash your produce in that vinegar soak, and
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then peel whenever it's possible.
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So if you actually wanna know what's happening in your body and understand
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your current toxin burden, those are the things that make up with pesticides,
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plastics, heavy metals, molds.
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Then you gotta really have a real plan.
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This is the time where you wanna book a free consult with md lifespan.com.
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They also have a toxin test that you can do.
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And this is how you're gonna start to learn about your own results.
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You can figure out how to modify your diet and how to actually build a specific
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protocol for you that fits in your life.
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Let me know in the comments of what you're doing to avoid these types of pesticides
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in the world, like, and subscribe to this if you wanna see more of 'em.
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And check out other videos where we dive deeper into toxins into
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other protocols that you could do right now for your health.
