The Adrenal Fatigue Solution

Adrenal Fatigue Solution

Unlock Your FREE eBook "50 Stress-Busting Tips"
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Adrenal Fatigue
    • What is Adrenal Fatigue?
    • What Are The Adrenal Glands?
    • Adrenal Fatigue: A Controversial Diagnosis?
    • How Common Is AFS?
    • HPA Axis Dysfunction
    • The Four Stages of Adrenal Fatigue
    • The History of Adrenal Fatigue
  • Stress
    • Stress 101
    • Stress Infographic
    • Coping With Stress At School
    • Stress In The Workplace
  • Causes
    • What Are The Causes Of Adrenal Fatigue?
    • Adrenal Fatigue, Stress And Modern Life
    • Caffeine: Does It Really Give You Energy?
    • Is Adrenal Fatigue Connected To Your Illness?
  • Symptoms
    • Symptoms Of Adrenal Fatigue (And How To Recover)
    • Adrenal Fatigue And Your Immune System
  • Treatment
    • Testing For Adrenal Fatigue
    • The Adrenal Fatigue Diet
    • Supplements
    • Recommended Products
    • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
    • Mind And Body
    • How Long Does It Take To Recover
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch & Dinner
    • Snacks
    • Treats
  • Get Started
LAST UPDATED March 15, 2015 by Fawne Hansen

What are the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and the ‘Clean Fifteen’?

Pesticides

Nowadays, many of us are much more conscious of what we put in our bodies. We know that we can improve our health, handle stress better, and boost our energy levels by making the right food choices. This isn’t only by choosing a piece of fruit over a couple of chocolate biscuits; it is also about sourcing high quality, local foods and making sure that they are grown or raised the right way.

If you regularly read about health and nutrition, you may have heard previously about the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen. The Environmental Working Group publishes these two groups of foods each year, and they list the fruits and vegetables that contain the most and the least pesticides. The foods on the Dirty Dozen list contain the most pesticides, and the foods on the Clean Fifteen list contain the least.

If you are suffering from chronic stress, adrenal fatigue, or just low energy levels, the food choices that you make can have a dramatic effect on your health. Just as eating too many pesticide-laden foods can eventually make you tired and sick, switching to cleaner foods can improve your energy levels and help you to recover from adrenal fatigue.

Before we go on, you should know that just because a food is on the Dirty Dozen list doesn’t mean that you should avoid it entirely. It means that you should make every effort to buy it from a trusted, organic source, rather than simply pick up the first produce you see at your local supermarket. Conversely, foods on the Clean Fifteen are relatively pesticide-free, so you may not have to be so careful when you purchase them.

Pesticides can have a devastating effect on your health

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a report in 2012 detailing how children are very susceptible to the side effects of pesticides that enter their system. The effects of pesticides ingested by children have been linked to pediatric cancers, learning difficulties and behavioral problems. Exposure to these pesticides has also been known to cause lupus, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and more.

More generally, pesticides work to weaken your immune system and place tremendous stress on your endocrine system. Eliminating most of the pesticides from your diet can help to restore your adrenal health and end your fatigue.

Which foods are on the lists?

To create their lists, the scientists at EWG analyzed 48 fruits and vegetables that are popular in US households. They based their rankings on the analysis of 32,000 samples of the foods tested by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture. To rank these fruits and vegetables the scientists at EWG used six metrics, one of which was the total number of pesticides found on the food and the percent of samples tested. The 2014 report recorded that 65 percent of the samples tested positive for pesticides, meaning that there was residue found on the foods.

To help people avoid ingesting pesticides, the EWG has created these two useful lists to help people understand which fruits and vegetables have low pesticide levels. If a food has a high concentration of pesticides, then people are advised to choose organic versions.

For four years the innocent seemingly-healthy apple has topped the Dirty Dozen, with the highest concentration of pesticides. Other contaminated favorites included hot peppers, kale and cherry tomatoes, all of which are sprayed with insecticides that are actually toxic to humans.

The Dirty Dozen

Let’s now look at the ‘Dirty Dozen Plus’ list for 2014 so that you can make informed and healthy choices when you are shopping for you and your family.

1. Apples
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes
4. Celery
5. Peaches
6. Spinach
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Nectarines
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas
12. Potatoes
+ Kale/Collard Greens
+ Hot Peppers

You might think that you are being super healthy snacking on these fruits and vegetables, but the truth is that you could be exposing yourself and your family to some very dangerous chemicals. If you are eating anything on this list then be sure to buy organic, or at least wash the foods very thoroughly.

The Clean Fifteen

The ‘Clean Fifteen’ are the fruits and veggies that contained the lowest levels of pesticides when tested. Although it is still a great idea to buy organic if possible, these foods are generally much safer and can usually be consumed without worrying about pesticide residues.

1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet Peas
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangoes
9. Papayas
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Grapefruit
13. Cantaloupe
14. Cauliflower
15. Sweet Potatoes

The next time you are shopping for healthy food for you and your family, think about what might have been sprayed on those foods while they were growing. Making the right decisions can prevent unnecessary exposure to dangerous pesticides, boost your immune system and help yout body to cope with stress more effectively.

Are You Suffering From Adrenal Fatigue?
The Adrenal Fatigue SolutionGet Started

Do you find yourself constantly fatigued, and struggling to get out of bed in the mornings? Do you feel unable to cope with stressful situations? If so, you might be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.

The Adrenal Fatigue Solution is written by Fawne Hansen and naturopath Dr. Eric Wood. Here's what the program contains:

  • ▸ How to diagnose your Adrenal Fatigue
  • ▸ Tips on reducing your stress levels
  • ▸ Comprehensive dietary guidelines to restore adrenal health
  • ▸ Lists of foods to eat and avoid
  • ▸ A comprehensive plan to restore your vitality

Get Started Today

Filed Under: Causes, Diet, Treatment

Comments

  1. Amber says

    March 24, 2015 at 10:31 pm

    Thank you for this article! Do the pesticides affect the whole product, or only the outer layer? Like if I buy a non-organic apple, but peel the skin off, does that eliminate the pesticides? My child asked me the other day, “why can’t all fruits and vegetables be organic? Is it simply because of cost, non-organic is cheaper to produce?

    Reply
    • Fawne Hansen says

      March 25, 2015 at 11:54 am

      Pesticides mainly affect the outer layer, so peeling off the skin of the apple will certainly help. If you’re buying non-organic apples (not a good idea!), this will also remove the layer of wax added to increase shelf-time.

      Growing food organically is certainly much more expensive, and that’s why it costs more for us to buy!

      Reply
  2. Amber says

    March 25, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Thanks for your response, I think it’s worth spending more for organic, plus it tastes better!

    Reply
  3. Mike says

    June 21, 2015 at 10:19 am

    Buying regular apples is a bad idea? Come off it. Nothing is ever good enough. People eat fruits and vegetables and now you tell them if it’s not organic it’s as bad if not worse for them than eating junk. What a load of BS. Just enjoy what you eat and vary your diet. Job done.

    Reply
    • Fawne Hansen says

      June 21, 2015 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Mike. If you want to eat the wax and pesticides found on regular apples, that’s entirely up to you. Personally, I always buy organic apples because I don’t particularly want to consume nasty chemicals like that. If you’re buying non-organic simply because of some idea that pesticides can’t affect your health, then I’m sorry but you’re completely wrong. Please just take a look at the evidence.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




"This plan shows you how to heal your Adrenal Fatigue for good!"
—Christine R.
Start Now

POPULAR posts

Do you suffer from insomnia? It could be a sign of Adrenal Fatigue and a disrupted cortisol cycle

7 Common Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms (And How To Treat Them!)

Fresh cherry, strawberry, blueberry and raspberry

Which Fruits Have The Lowest Glycemic Load?

Fruits and vegetables

The Adrenal Fatigue Diet Plan

Supplements to relieve tiredness and exhaustion

Supplements For Adrenal Fatigue

Sources of stress

“Fight or Flight” vs. “Rest and Digest”

Testimonials

"You don’t know how much I appreciate your new book, The Adrenal Fatigue Solution. I have been undergoing unrelenting stress for 7 years. I haven’t understood why I cry, have so little energy, and am irritable all the time. Now I do, and I know how to cope. Your selfless efforts in gathering this book’s information are so generous. Thank you and God bless you. I love you for your help."

—Chris A.

"If you are interested in learning about adrenal fatigue and to find out if you have it, I highly recommend The Adrenal Fatigue Solution by Fawne Hansen and Dr. Eric Wood. It is an excellent, thorough book about this widespread condition that doctors just aren’t treating. This book shows you how to heal your adrenal fatigue for good."

—Christine R.

"The book is fabulous. So well executed and organized into all the environmental and societal influences contributing to Adrenal Fatigue. I think it should be a continuing education module for RD’s, Nurses, and physicians."

—Gay R.

More Testimonials

About the author

Fawne Hansen is an author and wellness coach specializing in the treatment of chronic stress and adrenal fatigue.

Follow us

Site links

▸ Privacy Policy
▸ Disclaimer
▸ Terms Of Use
▸ Contact

Shop links

▸ Get Started
▸ My Account
▸ Affiliates
▸ Support
Sign up to get a 25% discount on The Adrenal Fatigue Solution

These statements have not been evalutated by the FDA. Information is presented for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare professinal. Consult your doctor or health professional before starting any treatment.

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms Of Use
  • Affiliates
  • Support
  • My Account

Copyright © 2014–2025 Perfect Health. All rights reserved.