Nothing should stop you from eating more fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. They’re nutritional powerhouses that make your insides (immune, gastrointestinal, and neurological systems) and outsides (skin and hair) well-balanced and healthy — so they protect you from disease and keep you looking good.

But when the Environmental Working Group's  (EWG’s) Dirty Dozen comes out every year, listing the most pesticide-contaminated produce, I worry it will give the 80% to 90% of people who eat fewer than the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables an excuse to continue consuming nutrition-stripped, highly processed foods.

On top of that, lost in all the negative reporting about tainted produce is the EWG's list of the "Clean 15."

That names the nonorganic produce with the least amount of pesticide residue. And this year, 60% of them had no detectable levels at all.

Pineapple, sweet corn, avocados, papaya, onions, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, watermelon, mangoes, bananas, carrots, mushrooms, and kiwi are on the clean team.

As for those foods on the Dirty Dozen list ...  All meet the standards set by the government for safe consumption. But the EWG says you may want to opt for organic versions of the most pesticide-laced produce: spinach, kale, collards, berries, and grapes.

For more information on how to enjoy wonderful tasting, fresh foods that improve your health and increase your longevity, check out my book "What to Eat When."