Find out how a simple ingredient can reduce up to 96% of chemical residues in fruit and vegetables
Pesticides are an invisible danger. Faced with a bright apple or lush lettuce, we hardly imagine what could be behind so much beauty. This healthy appearance often hides pesticide residues at high levels: chemicals created to protect plantations, but also contaminating our dish. Recent relationships, such as the environmental working group (2023), show that foods such as strawberry, apple, grapes, peppers and spinach guide the ranking of the most contaminated even after conventional washing (EWG 2023). In Brazil, according to the data of Anvisa, over 60% of the foods analyzed have pesticide residues, some of which in concentrations above the limit considered safe (Anvisa, 2023). The problem is that, in silence, these compounds accumulate in the body and can influence the nervous system, the hormonal balance and even increase the risk of long -term cancer.
The hidden danger of pesticides
Created to protect parasites and disease crops, pesticides include several chemical groups, each with a specific function: insecticides, used to eliminate insects that attack leaves, fruits and roots; fungicides, applied against mushrooms and mold; herbicides, they aimed to control weeds; In addition to acaricides and bactericides, which fight even more specific parasites, such as mites and bacteria. These substances, guaranteeing greater agricultural productivity, also leave waste in food. Entering our body, they can trigger adverse effects even in small doses when the exposure is continuous. Studies show that many pesticides act as endocrine switches, interfering with production and hormonal regulation. Others are associated with neurological and immunological problems and there are evidence that relate the chronic exposure to the increase in certain tumors. This phenomenon is called bioaccumulus: with each meal, small quantities add up, remaining in the body and causing long -term impacts.
Foods that concentrate more waste
The EWG report ranks the most contaminated foods in the United States every year, a list known as “Dirty Dozen”. In 2023, the negative highlights were: strawberry, spinach, cabbage, fishing, pear, net, apple, grapes, peppers, cherries, blueberries and beans go. These results dialogue with Brazilian data: the pesticide waste analysis program (for/anvisa) has identified contamination in over half of the samples evaluated, including daily consumption products such as peppers, strawberries and lettuce.
Conventional washing is not enough
The most common recommendation is to wash fruit and vegetables in running water. Although this practice helps to remove part of the dirt and some surface waste, the research shows that many pesticides penetrate the shell and adjust in deeper layers, making the elimination difficult. This means that in many cases, the wash only is not enough to guarantee a food without chemicals.
The role of sodium bicarbonate
A simple, economic and effective solution was demonstrated in a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2017. The researchers evaluated contaminated apples with two common pesticides (Tiabendazole and Fimete) and discovered that the immersion in a sodium bicarbonate solution to 1% removed up to 96% shoes of shoes of shoes from shoes Bark. The secret is in the pH alkaline of bicarbonate, which promotes chemical reactions of hydrolysis and oxidation, breaking the structure of the pesticides molecules and facilitating their degradation. Compared to vinegar and even with chlorine solutions, bicarbonate was more effective (he et al., 2017).
Compared to vinegar and even with chlorine solutions, bicarbonate was more effective.
How to use baking soda at home
The application is simple: just dilute 1 tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate in 1 liter of water and dip fruit and vegetables for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse well in running water. This process is highly effective in removing surface waste, but it is important to note that it does not eliminate the pesticides already absorbed by the food pulp.
In addition to cleaning, making aware choices
Sodium bicarbonate is a precious ally to reduce the intake of pesticides, but does not replace the importance of consuming reliable biological foods and whenever possible,. Clean and sustainable agriculture is the way to guarantee truly healthy foods. Therefore, when we look at that perfect apple or the juicy strawberry, we can remember that the true beauty of food is not only in appearance, but in the purity of its essence.
We can look beyond the surface and choose, when possible, what does not only have the body, but also life in harmony with nature.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
