top of page
Writer's pictureSwati Saini

Pesticides Removal: Fruits & Vegetables



Fruits and Vegetables are an essential part of our food. Their nutritions and tastes make them an ideal diet to have on a daily basis. They have numerous health benefits and provides additional nutrients which the staple foods like bread and milk fail to provide. Fruits and Vegetables are the healthiest when they are consumed raw. But today, many of them are loaded with toxic chemicals and pesticides which can be very harmful to us.


The growing demand for these foods and modern agricultural techniques has led to increased use of pesticides on food products. They cling to the surface of these fruits and vegetables then enter into our system. This can cause many health problems and can even lead to death in some cases if it gets accumulated in large quantities in the body.


So, to ensure that your fruits and vegetables are free of any harmful toxins you need to clean them carefully before consuming them. There are some DIY super easy ways to remove pesticides from these foods at home.



Saltwater Soak


Saltwater is a great absorbent of unwanted chemicals present on fruits and vegetables. To clean these food products, take a 10 % saltwater solution, and soak your fruits and vegetables in it for 20 minutes. It will get rid of almost 90% of the residues present on these items.


Baking Soda + Water


Baking Soda is an effective cleaning agent. Because of this property, it is also used in beauty cleansing regimes. For removing pesticides from your fruits & vegetables with baking soda, mix it with water in a 1/100 ounce ratio. Now soak your green eatables into this solution for 12-15 minutes and then rinse off with clean water.


Vinegar


Vinegar is known to remove the unwanted bacteria from your fruits and vegetables. You can use Vinegar for pesticide removal in two ways.


  • Mix 1 part vinegar in 4 parts of water and then soak your fruits and vegetables in it for about 20 minutes.


  • Take full-strength vinegar in a bowl and dip your food items in it for maximum toxins removal. But be careful of dipping porous skin fruits into it as vinegar can enter into them and change their look and taste.



Cold Water


Simply washing your fruits and vegetables in cold water is also effective in taking off pesticides from their outer layer. Research at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station concluded that 9 out of 12 pesticides can be removed by rinsing your food items with cold water only. Keep in mind to wash your food items thoroughly and with clean water only for maximum results.




Peel Off


It is often said that the fruits should be consumed with their outer skin as it is high in roughage and good for digestion. But researchers have found that it is not a good idea to do this since the outer layer is the most exposed to pesticides and other chemicals. It is better to peel off your fruits and vegetables before eating them to ensure that you eat healthily.



Fruits and Vegetables are the foundation of good health. By removing as many chemicals as possible from them, you ensure that you are eating healthy. Try to include products of organic farming in your diet. You can also grow your own fruits and vegetables in your garden at home. It will be good for your plate and wallet too!


“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” – Ann Wigmore

Comments


bottom of page