How to Rid Your Produce of Pesticides: A Practical Guide

Pesticides act as a protective shield for field crops, but they're anything but healthy for our bodies. Most growers use a significant amount of pesticides and toxic substances, and this is a fact that's hard to deny.

If you want to avoid pesticides, going organic is the best route, although even then, products aren’t entirely free of harmful substances. Yet, for most of us, it's impractical; not everyone can afford the steep prices of organic fruits and veggies.

The pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables can lead to numerous side effects. Sometimes the impact isn't immediate; it can take a long time for pesticides to begin affecting the body because they accumulate in the liver and kidneys, making it difficult for the body to get rid of them.

Prolonged exposure to pesticide remnants, even in low amounts, can affect your health. It’s particularly challenging as we consume more processed foods, making it tough for the body to handle everything: processed foods, pesticides, stress, etc. All this weakens the immune system, burdens the liver and kidneys, and puts a strain on the digestive system.

Peeling fruit to avoid pesticides isn’t recommended because you'll also lose a significant portion of the fruit or vegetable's health benefits, like antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

The best way to remove pesticides from fruits and veggies is by soaking them in a bowl of water with half a cup of vinegar (preferably natural apple cider vinegar) and a tablespoon of baking soda. Let the fruits or veggies soak for five to ten minutes, then rinse with clean water.

You can also mix a bottle of spritzer with a cup of water, two tablespoons of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, and a tablespoon of baking soda. Spray it on the fruits, wait 10 minutes, and wash off.

Soaking and scrubbing fruits with soap and water won’t remove pesticides; it only adds more chemicals and potential hazards to your body.

It’s advisable not to wash fruits and vegetables before storing them in the fridge; instead, wash them just before use, as washing too soon can accelerate the growth of unwanted bacteria and mold.

If you do decide to wash them before storage, it’s best to dry them with paper towels first.

Zohara Shavit is a naturopath N.D and an iridologist with years of experience in treatment and counseling, as well as conducting workshops. To book a cost-free workshop, call 073-2221290