lovesouthernsocial.com

Pesticides are still present in our daily lives through the foods we consume

Pesticides are everywhere. They are applied on the plantation, but remain in the food during the harvest period and reach the tables of restaurants and our homes (see more).

Unsurprisingly, pesticides are problematic for human health and the environment. Cases like Roundup (used by a large food company) or poisoning via DDT (a widely used insecticide common in the mid-twentieth century) are unfortunately not that uncommon (check out other casspaos).

But it is possible to avoid ingesting food with pesticides. Follow below how to avoid pesticides in your food with nine simple tips:

eat organic food

Organic vegetables take this name precisely because they do not use any type of substance that is harmful to the environment during their production process. Look for properly certified organics, grown correctly and locally.

Wash your food (whether organic or not)

You won't be able to get rid of all the pesticide because it's absorbed by plants, but washing the food in warm water will help a lot. Wash in a similar way to washing your hands. Use a brush for better washing - salt water can have the same effect;

Peel non-organic products

Due to the spray used to apply pesticides, the residues are located on the surface of the food, that is, on the skin. Therefore, peel the food to remove the area most likely to be affected;

Be aware of foods that absorb more and less pesticide

Prioritize organics, but if you can't fully adhere, stay tuned for foods that contain, according to research, higher and lower levels of pesticides. First, the list of those with the most pesticide residues. They are: apple, strawberry, grape, potato, peach, kale, spinach, celery, nectarine, pepper, blueberry, lettuce, kale and milk. The list of those with less pesticides includes: onion, pineapple, asparagus, avocado, cabbage, melon, corn, eggplant, grapefruit, kiwi, mango, mushroom, papaya, sweet potato, watermelon and frozen peas.

Avoid hollow foods as much as possible

Certain fruits, such as apples, have a small hollow area at the top, which leads to a higher concentration of pesticides in the specific area. Therefore, cut and discard the top part of non-organic fruits that are hollow;

Grow your own production

When you grow your own garden, you have control over what goes on in the soil. So, take the opportunity to grow whatever you want and get rid of pesticides. Here's how to create your own herb garden;

wild harvest

Obviously, don't do this in a place where the air, soil, and water are polluted, such as near a road or in a big city. And make sure you're not collecting poisonous fruit;

Filter tap water before drinking

In one study, an association was found between food allergies and dicholorphenols (commonly used in pesticides/herbicides and also added to tap water);

"Secret of the drawer"

When purchasing products that potentially have pesticides impregnated in their bodies, put them in the vegetable drawer in your refrigerator and keep them under periodic observation. Watch out for the first sign of degradation of the first fruits. When this occurs, the effect of the pesticides should be at a lower potency stage, indicating safer conditions for the consumption of the product.

keep the pressure

To do this, share these ideas and talk to your friends and family about the toxicity of pesticides and their long-term effects on the ecosystem (see more). It also puts pressure on governments and companies so that there are policies and initiatives to change the use of pesticides, as well as independent studies on the subject.