48 Decisions We've Made For You
O, The Oprah Magazine, Arianne Cohen
Published September 1, 2008
Paper or plastic? Shave or wax? Stay at this job or go? From pesky little quandaries that ought to be no-brainers...to the mysteries of the universe (should I wash that man right out of my hair? and must it be organic shampoo?), deciding on the best course of action isn't always easy. We made a list of life's vexing questions, then went in search of perspective, reason-and answers. Consider it our gift to agonizers everywhere.
WHAT NOW, MY LOVE?
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12) Which produce is it important to buy organic? "People can decrease the amount of pesticides they ingest by 90 percent by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the 12 least contaminated instead," says Lori Bongiorno, author of Green, Greener, Greenest. The dirty dozen, according to the Environmental Working Group: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, pears, spinach, and potatoes. (For the complete list, go to
http://www.foodnews.org.) "I also buy organic dairy and meats," Bongiorno says, "because that's the only way to guarantee avoiding antibiotics and hormones." In packaged foods, such as cereals and macaroni and cheese, the health benefits of organic versus nonorganic aren't nearly as dramatic.
13) Should I be buying organic makeup and body products? You should be buying nontoxic products. "The problem with 'organic' is that there are so many different labeling systems, it's hard to know what you're buying," says Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group. Check your toiletries at
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com, the Environmental Working Group's list of more than 25,000 products rated by toxicity and ingredient safety. When possible, purchase those rated 0 to 2 on their 10-point scale.
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