We all know that fruits and vegetables are important for a healthy diet, yet the pesticide residue remaining on their skins can spell big trouble for us. Studies have linked them to fetal birth defects, cancer, and ADHD- just to name a few! Today I wanted to share a simple tip I have learned which supposedly works better than just about anything on the market to remove that residue, as well as bacteria, and the spray waxes used to make the produce look pretty on the shelves. You probably have both of the things you need already. They are:
Vinegar and 3% Hydrogen Peroxide!
I was excited to hear about this from my sister in law yesterday, who is always looking into natural health things. We had been using peroxide for awhile already, but now I'll be stepping it up a notch! She pours a few capfuls of the peroxide in one side of her double sink, and a few capfuls of the vinegar in the other side, and simply allows the produce to soak for just a few minutes before rinsing. This way may work just fine, but I have not been able to find any online literature supporting this particular method. If/when we can find it, I will post it here!
I was excited to hear about this from my sister in law yesterday, who is always looking into natural health things. We had been using peroxide for awhile already, but now I'll be stepping it up a notch! She pours a few capfuls of the peroxide in one side of her double sink, and a few capfuls of the vinegar in the other side, and simply allows the produce to soak for just a few minutes before rinsing. This way may work just fine, but I have not been able to find any online literature supporting this particular method. If/when we can find it, I will post it here!
All of the reading I've done suggests you should keep them undiluted in their own spray bottles, and then spray your fruit/veggies with one, then the other, rinsing before eating. The order does not matter. You are not supposed to take the easy way out and combine them into one bottle. The chemical reaction needs to occur on your produce to be effective. Also, the peroxide tends to lose effectiveness when exposed to light, so it's best to keep it in the dark bottle and just replace the cap with a spray top. This same procedure can be used for all kinds of household cleaning, and is supposed to be 10 times more effective than bleach as a disinfectant. Use it as a non-toxic alternative on counters, sinks, toilets, and more! If you'd like to read up on the studies done on this combination, this site is a great resource.
Yes, it may be better to buy organic produce, but honestly, most of the people I know (myself included) can not afford this luxury all of the time. Not only that, but I have been reading about some of the "organic" pesticides that are being used and how they really may not be a whole lot safer! In case you'd like to see which fruits and veggies get sprayed the most and which would be best to buy organic as your finances/desires lead, here is a great reference chart.
Now lets go and enjoy our fruits and vegetables responsibly, shall we?!
This post is part of the Home Remedies Carnival at Keeper Of The Home.
This post is part of the Home Remedies Carnival at Keeper Of The Home.