More than 66,000 tons of pesticides are used each year in France in horticultural and agricultural crops. These pesticides are harmful to health and can cause damage to the immune system and cause birth defects in children. That's why it's important to clean the products you buy to prevent them from getting into your body. Here are some tips for cleaning your food.
Most of the products we buy and consume have been grown with pesticides. According to the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), high levels of pesticide residues can be toxic enough to cause long-term cancers. Unless you buy only biologically certified fruits and vegetables, do not neglect to properly clean your fruits and vegetables.
Foods that contain more and less pesticides
The Environmental Precautions Group (EWG) has released a report that shows the most and least contaminated fruits and vegetables available on the market to inform the public about this. Here are the fruits and vegetables that contain the least pesticides: avocado, corn, cabbage, pineapple, onion, mango, asparagus, papaya, watermelon, eggplant, kiwi, grapefruit, cantaloupe melon, cauliflower and sweet potato.
If you need a food that is not in this list, know that there is what is called "dirty dozen", a list of 12 fruits and vegetables that have the most traces of pesticides. These products are therefore good candidates for organic purchase. Here is the list of 12 foods:
- Apples
- The strawberries
- Celery
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Peppers
- Nectarines
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
- Potatoes
It is certain that these foods mentioned above can not simply disappear from the plates. Since it takes variety in the diet, it's crucial to know how to clean the food we buy. To eliminate pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables, here are some simple tips you can use.
White vinegar
In a bowl, pour white vinegar and water and immerse in the products for 15 minutes. After that time, wash them well and rinse with plenty of water. About 98% of microbes and pesticides on food are destroyed using this method.
Baking soda
The second alternative is the preparation of a liquid with baking soda. In a basin filled with water, add a tablespoon of baking soda and dive in the food and leave for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, wash well and rinse with water. A large part of pesticides will be destroyed.
Salted water
Another way to destroy pesticides is to wash your vegetables and fruits with salt water. Pour a little salt into a bowl and add some water. Then immerse your food and rub it with your hand. Rinse them with clean water. You will be able to remove about 75 to 80% of pesticides.
Peel your vegetables
If you peel your vegetables and fruits before eating, you can also eliminate pesticides. Indeed, pesticides penetrate a lot in the skin of food, especially when the skin of these is cracked. If you also cook food with poultry, it is recommended to remove the skin of poultry when cooking because it absorbs pesticides.