How to use baking soda to wash 96% of the toxic pesticides of your fruits and vegetables?
Baking soda is an essential ally at home. Because of its low cost and its multifunction, it represents an essential element that must always be at hand for its many practical uses. To move in this direction, a recent study has discovered its effectiveness in the washing of fruits and vegetables. Its components would have the capacity to rid them of about 96% of toxic pesticides, as relayed by our fellow Healthline and Science Daily!
At the University of Massachusetts, a research group met and studied Gala apples and found the effectiveness of baking soda to clean these fruits from pesticides.
A scientific research team from the University of Massachusetts in the Amherst area, chaired by scientist Dr. Lili He, reported on the cleansing and purifying properties of baking soda for cleaning fruits and vegetables. It would indeed be considered the most effective way to say goodbye to the harmful traces of pesticides. To achieve this, the researchers chose to perform the test on Gala apples which are among the most consumed and represent the most risk of pesticide concentration.
For this, they washed the apples using three different solutions each time:
- A commercial liquid concentrated in bleach and approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- A mixture made from 1% water and baking soda
- Tap water
The results were not long in coming, and the baking soda solution won the cleaning award because of its ability to separate and destroy pesticide molecules. Other products used for washing were half as effective. To ensure optimal results, it is recommended to let soak for at least fifteen minutes.
Dr. Lili He testifies:
"Washing the products is an easy way to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure. Since commercial processors wash their fruits and vegetables for two minutes after harvesting with a bleach-based disinfectant to remove dirt and germs, he and his team wondered if washing could also eliminate pesticide residues. Scientists compared the effectiveness of germicidal bleach with rinsing in tap water or with sodium bicarbonate solution, alkaline. Most pesticides are not stable at alkaline pH, which breaks down residues and facilitates their removal. "
It is important to wash the fruits and vegetables to minimize the risk of exposure to insecticides, given the harmful nature of two of them, namely, (phosmet and thiabenzadole). The first is one of the best known and used on the market, as for the second, its toxicity could penetrate inside the apple given its nature fungicide. Both are thought to be responsible for hyperactivity in children, diabetes, and low sperm counts.
Note also that the effectiveness of baking soda to eliminate pesticides is not total as the reminder our colleagues Liberation. To guarantee a minimum of pesticides, it is always preferable to favor organic foods.
Technique of using baking soda for washing food
As the study proves, baking soda is the recommended element for cleaning your fruits and vegetables safely and to overcome traces of dirt most inlaid, which tend to serve as a nest for microbes . Its concentration in alkaline salt obtains effective and effective effects for the elimination of pesticides.
Simply place your fruits and vegetables in a large container of cold water and sprinkle two to three tablespoons of baking soda.
Soak your food in this water for about 15 minutes then scrub gently with a dish washing brush, suitable for this purpose, to reach the most camouflaged recesses.
Not only is baking soda economical for family purses, but it is also very easy to use.