Your Washed Fruits and Veggies Might STILL Be Toxic

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted December 9, 2024

We’ve all been there. Standing at the kitchen sink, dutifully washing our fruits and vegetables to remove the pesticides, feeling good about our healthy choices.

But there’s a chance that all that scrubbing might be giving you a false sense of security…

Unfortunately, the latest research on pesticides in our produce is downright alarming.

And it turns out, that quick rinse under the tap isn’t doing nearly as much as we thought.

Let’s start with the bad news. In April, Consumer Reports dropped a bombshell, revealing “alarming” amounts of pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables sold in American grocery stores.

We’re not just talking about a bit of dirt here. These are hazardous chemicals that can mess with your brain and reproductive system.

And it gets worse. A new study published in the journal Nano Letters found that washing your produce doesn’t remove all the pesticides.

Those nasty chemicals could still cling to your “clean” fruits and veggies even after a thorough scrub.

Many people assume that peeling their fruits and vegetables is a foolproof solution. However, this study also throws cold water on that idea.

The researchers discovered that pesticides can penetrate the peel and make their way into the fruit’s flesh.

So, what’s the answer? Well, peeling is better than nothing, according to the study’s authors. Professor Ye from China’s Anhui Agricultural University says it can eliminate most pesticide residues effectively.

But let’s be honest—who wants to peel their grapes or strawberries?

The good news is (and yes, there is some) that Consumer Reports found that about two-thirds of the foods they tested had “little to worry about” when it came to pesticides. And nearly all organic produce fell into this safer category.

But before you breathe a sigh of relief, remember this: the biggest risks are caused by just a few pesticides, concentrated in a handful of foods.

It’s like a toxic needle in a haystack, and we’re all unknowingly playing a dangerous game of chance every time we eat.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself and your family:

• Go organic whenever possible, especially for foods with higher pesticide residues (like strawberries, spinach, and nectarines).
• Peel fruits and vegetables when you can, even if it means losing some nutrients in the skin.
• Wash your produce thoroughly. It won’t remove all pesticides, but it still removes some.
• Consider using a fruit and vegetable wash specifically designed to remove pesticides.

Stay informed about which produce is most likely to contain high levels of pesticides, and adjust your shopping habits accordingly.

Our friends at the Environmental Working Group release a Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 list every year that can help you make informed decisions.

P.S. The produce problem that’s putting YOU at risk.

Source:

Zewan Lin, Xiaotong Fu, Ke Zheng, Shaobo Han, Cellulose Surface Nanoengineering for Visualizing Food Safety, Nano Lett. 2024, 24, 33, 10016–10023

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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