Nowadays, people are becoming increasingly aware of the health concerns linked to the use of pesticides.
According to the WHO( World Health Organization):
“Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to protect crops against insects, fungi, weeds and other pests. In addition to their use in agriculture, pesticides are also used to protect public health in controlling the vectors of tropical diseases, such as mosquitoes.
But pesticides are also potentially toxic to humans. They may induce adverse health effects including cancer, effects on reproduction, immune or nervous systems. Before they can be authorized for use, pesticides should be tested for all possible health effects and the results should be analyzed by experts to assess any risks to humans.”
Researchers have found that baking soda is a versatile product that can offer a myriad of health issues, and among them, it can successfully get rid of up to 96% of pesticides from fruit and vegetables.
Additionally, studies have shown that it is even more effective than standard bleaching procedures, as it is a highly alkaline product that neutralizes chemicals and pesticides by breaking them down into molecules.
A team of researchers at the University of Massachusetts conducted a study on the effects of baking soda on gala apples. The apples were treated with two of the most common pesticides to the apples, phosmet, which is a known insecticide, and thiabendazole, a fungicide that has been found to penetrate apple peels and were afterward rinsed with three liquids.
The first one was tap water, the second a 1% baking soda/water solution, and the thirst was the most popular bleaching solution, approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The results showed that the second solution removed the most pesticide residue from apples, even though it took it 12 to 15 minutes to fully eliminate all of them.
The lead author Dr. Lili He said:
‘Pesticide residues may remain on agricultural produce, where they contribute to the total dietary intake of pesticides. Concerns about potential hazards of pesticides to food safety and human health have increased, and therefore, it is desirable to reduce these residues.’
This powerful, eco-friendly produce wash will cleanse the fruits and vegetables and lower the risk of health issues due to the use of pesticides.
All you have to do is to add a few tablespoons of baking soda to a bowl of water and place the produce in the solution to soak for a few minutes. Rinse with cold water. Moreover, you can even scrub them with a bit of baking soda. Simple, but genuinely beneficial and powerful!
Additionally, despite washing the fruits and vegetables with this solution before use, can also follow the tips below to help you minimize the risk of pesticide exposure:
— Grow your own produce or buy organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables.
— Learn which foods have higher pesticide residue levels
— Use non-toxic strategies to control insects in the garden.
