Lettuce Discuss The Importance Of Cleaning All Produce Even Organic With All Natural Tips
Wait! Before you eat those fruits and veggies, did you thoroughly wash them? Not just rinsing, but cleaning. Most people don't really know how important it is to thoroughly wash and clean all of your fresh produce. This goes especially for those who rely on organic products who may think the higher quality means a pass on a bath.
A comprehensive report from the USDA on fresh produce in the US reported that conventional foods on store shelves had on average of 3.2 different pesticides that could be identified as present on the outside of the skin. In high contrast, organic produce was found to have on average 0.8 different pesticides per product. The 400% difference is huge and solidifies beliefs that organic produce is cleaner and healthier, but far from perfect.
To reiterate, organic produce was not found to be clean from pesticides. Research as to why is inconclusive and are likely to be related to cross-contamination but the findings are clear. All produce should be thoroughly cleaned prior to consuming.
Lettuce go over a few tips:
🚿 Never use cleansers to clean produce, unless they are specifically designed for fruits and vegetables.
🚿 Use only cold clean water.
🚿 For produce with thick skin, use a vegetable brush.
🚿 Soak for at least 2 minutes, drain and soak a 2nd time.
🚿 Pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel as rubbing dry damages skin.
🚿 Using 5% white vinegar in your soak will remove all microbes as compared to between 2 & 13% with plain water.
🚿 Using salt water removes significantly more pesticides than plain water.
🚿 Baking soda solutions are highly effective at removing pesticides even from below the skin.
🚿 Never wash mushrooms, pat clean with a lightly damp towel or use a mushroom brush to avoid damaging your fungi.
Have a great food, lifestyle or fitness tip? Email it to social@bodyhealth.com for a mention or feature.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.