Eating organic isn’t always on everyone's agenda and when you compare the price to organic fruit and veg it can sometimes be off-putting. However, we do believe juicing organic fruit and vegetables is definitely worth considering. First, let's start off by explaining what organic actually means. Farmers who grow organic produce will not use chemical weed killers, herbicides, insecticides, antibiotics and hormones, they use natural fertilisers, beneficial insects and birds, and rotate crops.
Certain fruits and vegetables contain more pesticides than other fruits and vegetables so it's important to buy organic for the produce listed below. This is a great way to help keep pesticide intake low and is also really affordable.
- Peaches
- Apples
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Pears
- Grapes (Imported)
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Potatoes
Washing your produce reduces pesticide levels but does not completely get rid of them. Some
fruit and veg have a wax coating sealing in pesticide residues like apples, while other produce has soft or waxy skins that help chemicals stick to their surface. The worst pesticides are designed to be absorbed into the plants to kill the bugs that eat them. This means the pesticides are inside the fruit and veg, so washing does not get rid of all the pesticides.
For pesticides on the surface, you can still get rid of a substantial amount with some simple washing tips. Below are some really simple techniques on how to get rid of most pesticides on fruit and veg.
How to Wash your Produce
Leafy greens should have the outer layer peeled off and discarded. Then fill a sink with cold water and add 120ml of vinegar. Make sure to give them a good wash for around 5 minutes and then rinse in a colander under cold water.
For broccoli and the likes, it can be slightly more difficult to ensure pesticides are kept to a minimum. It’s best to stick them in hot water for about 10 seconds as this is just enough time get rid of all the nasty bacteria but not long enough to start boiling them. Then like the leafy greens put them in a sinkful of cold water and 120ml of vinegar. Remember to wash them after to get rid of the vinegar.
Soft fruits are best washed right before consuming as often they can be easily ruined or burst under cold water. You are best off washing the fruit in a colander and then soaking them in cold water to remove the tough dirt. This is best repeated 2 times.
Organic produce still has some pesticides, just nowhere near as many as non-organic produce. We think its best to follow the steps above regardless if its organic or not. The only way you will know if no pesticides have been used is by growing your own fruit and veg or purchasing produce from local farmers markets.
Regardless of whether your juicing and blending, you should be washing your fruit and veg anyway, but when you juice you take the soluble fibre out of the produce. Studies have proven that the soluble fibre can help protect your body from the pesticides. So if you can’t afford to go fully organic then try blending fibre rich organic foods such as apples or strawberries and add it to your juice. this will help to help defend your digestion system from the pesticides.
As well as being free from pesticides, organic produce is usually higher in nutritional value because chemicals have not depleted the vitamins and minerals. This means that the produce also tastes better. For example, many people often find Organic cucumbers sweeter than there non-organic twin. Which is great from a juicing perspective as you could use cucumber to sweeten your green juicers instead of using fruit, which can often be high in sugar.
Using organic ingredients is important when juicing because these drinks are absorbed into your system much more quickly than if you were to just eat the ingredients in them.