How to Eat Enough Vegetables and Fruits without All the Extra Pesticides

Pesticides are commonly used to prevent crops from being destroyed by insects during their growth cycle. Pesticides also help to ward off small animals and insects from harming harvested crops which are stored before being shipped to consumers. Pesticides help farmers by ensuring their crops will produce viable produce; however, current studies reveal that pesticide contaminants found in vegetables and fruits are more abundant than originally estimated.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that individuals consume nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Because the long term effects on human health that pesticides may cause is currently unclear at best, it is important for all individuals to prevent future health problems by reducing the amount of pesticides they consume without reducing vegetable and fruit servings. Individuals can achieve this goal by identifying vegetables and fruits which contain high and low amounts of pesticide contaminants.

There are a number of very popular fruits and vegetables which have been found to have a high number of pesticide contaminants. The Environmental Working Group reports the following list of vegetables and fruits which contain the highest number of pollutants: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.

Washing these vegetables and fruits in water and scrubbing away residue with a proper scrub brush such as (Fuller's #316
Premium Veggie Scrubber Brush or Fuller’s #315 Veggie Scrubber) designed for cleaning fruits and vegetables may not be enough. Pesticides not only reside on the outside of the fruit or vegetable, but they also can permeate and maintain residence within the core of the produce. Using organic cleansers like (#607 Veggie Clean Concentrate) with water and a suitable scrub brush such as (Fuller's #316
Premium Veggie Scrubber Brush or Fuller’s #315 Veggie Scrubber) also does not guarantee the product is suitable for consumption due to the high number of contaminants found in these products.

Since the most convenient options for cleaning highly contaminated fruits and vegetables isn’t enough, purchasing organic vegetables from your local store is a better way to reduce your pesticide consumption. You should still wash your organic vegetables and fruit thoroughly before consuming, and it never hurts to use an organic cleanser such as (#607 Veggie Clean Concentrate ) in conjunction with water and a quick scrub with the proper brush like (Fuller's #316 Premium Veggie Scrubber Brush or Fuller’s #315 Veggie Scrubber). Since the organic varieties of fruits and vegetables will not contain the high number of pesticides on their surface or interior structures, you will be better off in the long run by purchasing these fruits and vegetables.

If you have trouble finding organic vegetables and fruits in your local store, you may want to invest some time in beginning your own vegetable gardening project. By taking matters into your own hands and making a hobby of vegetable gardening in your own backyard, you can ensure your produce is fresh and pesticide free. If you run into problems with insects, you can always use organic pesticides which will not contaminate your food like regular pesticides can.

Vegetable gardening requires some planning and work to set up but many crops will continue to reproduce season after season. After you get through a few seasons of work, you will be able to identify the right fruit and vegetable plants which best grow in the climate where you live. You will also be able to narrow down the products which work best for you including organic pesticides and organic cleaners like (#607 Veggie Clean Concentrate) to be used before consuming your home grown vegetables.

It is important to remember that buying organic or growing your own is not necessary for all fruit and vegetable types. The Environmental Working Group also provides a list of vegetables and fruits which are the least contaminated with pesticide residue. This list of vegetables and fruits includes: asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kiwi, mangos, onion, papaya, pineapples and peas of the sweet variety. For these fruits and vegetables you don’t have to purchase organic or do your own vegetable gardening. All you need to do is wash each piece of produce with fresh water or with an organic cleanser such as (#607 Veggie Clean Concentrate ) to ensure that all pesticides have been removed before consumption.

Since the long term outcomes of pesticide residues found in vegetables and fruits still have yet to be identified by researchers, it is especially important to use preventative strategies when consuming fruits and vegetables. Make sure to note the list of vegetables and fruits which are most and least contaminated with pesticides. You can then use the necessary methods of washing and purchasing suitable for each to keep your vegetable and fruit intake high, but at the same time keep pesticides to a minimum.