How to Avoid Exposure to Pesticides

        Pesticides are chemicals used to avoid any damage by pests and therefore help to increase the production of food worldwide. Nowadays, pesticides are being used more than ever before. However, the use of pesticides can have cause many health risks. If you consume a large amount of pesticides it can cause problems for the reproductive and neurological system, and cause developmental problems. They can also prevent your hormones from performing properly since they are known as endocrine disrupters. It is important to follow these steps to avoid your consumption to these dangerous chemicals.
           

Firstly, the most simple way to reduce exposure to pesticides is to buy organic produce since organic famers do not use harmful pesticides on their produce. Organic produce tends to be pricey so try to buy the organic produce items that you or your family eats the most. Also, to identify fruit grown organically, look at the little sticker on the produce and the number should be five digits and start with “9” (e.g. 94223). When you buy organic products you are greatly minimizing your exposure to pesticides.
            Furthermore, you should always wash your fruits and vegetables for a fair amount of time! In addition, homemade and commercial produce cleaners are much more effective at removing any pesticides. To make your own produce cleaner you can mix together together a cup of water, a cup of white vinegar, and a tablespoon of baking soda and the juice of half a lemon. After all these ingredients are mixed together you can add them to a spray bottle. Then use your spray bottle to spray your fruits and veggies and let it sit for a couple of minutes and make sure to wash off the mixture after. 
            Secondly, make a no shoes policy in your home. When you walk across the grass that has fertilizers and herbicides, the residue from these strong chemicals can get attached to your shoes and invade your home. Sometimes, the residues can even stay on carpets for years. This is a simple step to avoid bringing pesticides into your home.
            In addition, even though the skin of many produce items are good for you it is best to peel your produce. Most pesticides are found in the skin and by simply removing it it will help minimize your exposure. It will not get rid of all pesticides but it can decrease a large amount that you are consuming.
           

Thirdly, avoid processed foods especially corn and soy products which are very high on pesticides.  It is a beneficial to avoid eating processed foods anyways because they are filled with unnatural fibers and vitamins that your body does not absorb.

      It’s important that people are aware of the detrimental effects of pesticides. It can also affect everyone differently. Children tend to be more sensitive to pesticides. Children’s bodies are also developing so they may not be able to break down the chemicals as effectively as adults do. People who suffer from asthma and chronic diseases may also feel sick after being exposed to pesticides. Even people who live near agricultural fields are also in danger of being exposed to these dangerous chemicals. Following all these steps will help reduce the amount of exposure by a large amount…What are some things that you do to decrease the amount of pesticides you consume?

What foods pack the most powerful antioxidant punch?

Everyone may not know what antioxidants actually are but when asked everyone can vouch for these vitamins by saying they are good for you! And it is true Antioxidants are in fact vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that may protect you from free radicals. Radicals are produced when your body breaks down food for energy. These molecules can damage skin cells, weaken the immune system and may play a role in heart disease, arthritis, cancer and other diseases. The good news is that by increasing the level of antioxidants in your body, you are arming yourself with what you need to slow down, fight off and prevent the damage that can be caused by these free radicals. Antioxidants work to neutralize these free radicals, thereby making you healthier in every way!

With the positives of these vitamins being so high it is important to know which foods contain the most powerful antioxidant punch! Nutrition Research Centers are constantly testing different foods to reveal which contain the most antioxidants and this can be done by measuring their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity). This is pretty much just a fancy way of saying antioxidant rich power. The top ten performers in both the fruit and vegetable categories have been recognized!

 

Fruits:

1. Prunes

2. Raisins

3. Blueberries

4. Blackberries

5. Strawberries

6. Raspberries

7. Plums

8. Oranges

9. Red grapes

10. Cherries

 

Vegetables:

1. Kale

2. Spinach

3. Brussels sprouts

4. Alfalfa sprouts

5. Broccoli flowers

6. Beets

7. Red bell peppers

8. Onions

9. Corn

10. Eggplant 

 

Make sure these fruits and vegetables make their way to the top of your grocery-shopping list for the week! There are numerous compounds that can act as antioxidants with Vitamin E, Vitamin C, beta-carotene, zinc, selenium and manganese. Each of these substances has a function and plays a different role in the body so when it comes to food choice, variety is the key to success. The more color you have on your plate, the bigger your capacity becomes for receiving nutrients and antioxidants!