We all know how important it is to eat our fruit and vegetables; it’s necessary for good health.
The problem is that many farms still spray their crops with pesticides to avoid bugs eating them.
These pesticides cause problems with our health. You can read more about the risks associated with consuming pesticides and other Common Water Contaminants and Their Risks.
Some of the risks associated with pesticides include damage to the endocrine system, nervous system and hormones.
What's the best way to avoid consuming pesticides?
Choose organic food when you can.
If that isn't an option, then wash fruits and veggies thoroughly before eating or cooking with them.
How To Wash Fruit and Vegetables to Remove Pesticides
Washing your produce with plain water does remove some of the pesticides, but not all of them.
Studies show that most commercial produce cleaners are just as effective as tap water.
However, the most effective way to wash your fruit and veggies to remove pesticides includes saltwater, vinegar water, or baking soda water.
Salt Water
Saltwater is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to remove certain pesticides.
Scientists discovered that a 10% saltwater solution is the most effective way to remove pesticides from your produce.
Vinegar
100% vinegar is just as effective, but there are some drawbacks.
Vinegar costs money, leaving an unpleasant flavour in your food.
Baking Soda
Baking soda proves to be the most effective way to remove pesticides from the surface of your produce and even beneath the surface.
The baking soda used in these studies was very weak too, and it only takes 12 - 15 mins to remove pesticides from your food completely.
How To Use Baking Soda to Wash Fruit and Vegetables
The general idea is to fill a large bowl or container with water, add a teaspoon of baking soda, insert your fruit or veggies, allow to soak for a few minutes and then scrub with a brush.
Finally, rinse your veggies with fresh, clean water again.
The only challenge then is that if you aren’t using a water filter, your fruit and veggies will still be contaminated by the many pollutants that lie in our everyday tap water.
For leafy vegetables, using a salad spinner can be a great help.
Using Filtered Water To Wash Your Food
Cooking with filtered water and using filtered water to rinse the pesticides from your food are two of the best methods of preparing your food, so your body doesn’t have to detox the pesticides and other contaminants.
If you don’t currently use a water filter that removes pesticides, please check out our collection of Benchtop, Benchtop Gravity, Undersink, Reverse Osmosis and Whole House Water Filters, and contact us if you have any questions.
We’d love to help!
Water Filters That Remove Pesticides
Activated carbon filtration systems are the best defence against pesticides and herbicides.
Carbon water filters will successfully remove 95%+ of pesticides from your drinking water.
Many carbon filters come as benchtop water filters, under sink water filters or whole house water filters. When looking for the perfect water filter, be sure to look at anything that is activated carbon, Aragon, or Reverse Osmosis.
Take a look at water filters for pesticides and contact us if you have any questions; we’d be happy to help.
ULTRAPURE Aragon 10" Twin Benchtop (or undersink) Water Filter with Sediment Protection
Filteroo® Superoo Stainless Steel Gravity Water
Twin Big Blue Whole House Water Filter System
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis Water Filter
HPF 7 Stage Reverse Osmosis Under Sink Water Filter System
