Table of contents:
- Can pesticides trigger cancer recurrence?
- Tips for cleaning fresh fruit and vegetables to be free from pesticides
Fresh fruits and vegetables contain various nutrients that are good for the body. Unfortunately, most of the fruits and vegetables you buy on the market contain pesticides. Pesticides are chemical substances used to kill plant pests. Although it functions to defend plants from pests, pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits pose a risk to health.
Can pesticides trigger cancer recurrence?
Most of the fresh fruit and vegetables you buy at the market or greengrocer do contain pesticides. However, this pesticide does not cause a recurrence of cancer risk. Eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits is very good for health and can prevent cancer. These benefits far outweigh the risks that pesticides may pose.
If you are concerned about the risks of pesticides, consuming organic foods will prevent you from the bad effects of these substances. Organic food is food derived from plants or animals which farmers care for by prioritizing an environmentally friendly system.
Farmers who produce organic products do not use conventional methods of caring for their crops. For example, organic farmers use natural fertilizers for soil and plants and use a crop rotation system (a method used to rotate crops so that the soil does not lose nutrients as a result of being sucked up by the plant).
Food labeled organic is considered a better source of food ingredients for consumption, because it is claimed to be food that is free of pesticides, clean, and environmentally friendly because it does not use drugs or chemicals at all to help its growth.
Tips for cleaning fresh fruit and vegetables to be free from pesticides
Many people worry about the plague E. coli and salmonella in fresh food products causes patients undergoing cancer treatment to be asked to pay attention to the presentation of fruit and vegetables before consumption. The reason is, people who are undergoing cancer treatment may have a high risk of getting viral or bacterial infections from food.
Your doctor may recommend using dish soap to wash food and rinse it thoroughly, especially on foods that can be eaten raw. Washing food functions as a pesticide remover.
In general, here are the steps for removing pesticides from fruit and vegetables:
- Wash vegetables and fruits under running water from the tap. Don't forget, clean the outside of the food if the outside of the food will be eaten such as apples, cucumbers, or potatoes. If you don't have vegetable and fruit detergent, you can also use dish soap (one drop for every two gallons of water). If you use a small amount of dish soap, the soap will be able to remove dirt, pesticides, and insects from fruit and vegetables. Don't forget to rinse well and remove the outer leaves, such as lettuce and cabbage.
- If food products are labeled "unwashed", wash them before serving to reduce the risk of disease.
- Place the fruit and vegetable washer in a container or bag lined with paper towels. This method can ensure the dryness of the washed food.
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