You’re washing your fruits and veggies all wrong — how to ‘detox’ them

Eat your veggies — not chemicals on them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just one in 10 Americans is meeting our daily allowance of fruits and vegetables. While the detoxifying qualities of fruits and veggies have been well-established, one nutritionist says produce can benefit from a detox bath of its own.

Experts suggest that rinsing produce under tap water doesn’t do enough to purge it of pesticides and other potentially dangerous chemicals it’s exposed to during growth and harvest.

Nutritionist Jessica Shand explained to British Vogue last week, “The ones most commonly used on fruits and vegetables are herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and bactericides.”

A recent analysis by Environmental Working Group, an organization advocating for a cleaner food supply, found a whopping 75% of conventional fresh fruit and vegetables it sampled contained residue of potentially harmful chemicals.

Shand imparts that while removing the skin from fruits and vegetables can help rid them of toxins, it also strips them of fiber and other valuable nutrients. To mitigate these risks, Shand has incorporated a produce “detox” into her wellness routine.

She explains that properly washing fruits and vegetables can minimize exposure to contaminants, specifically endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

Shand shares that these chemicals are “endocrine mimickers,” meaning they are similar in structure to hormones in the body, specifically estrogen.

“They have the power to mimic, block, or interfere with your key sex hormones,” she told British Vogue. “By properly washing your veg, you can minimize exposure and support your hormones.”

And beware, pricey organic food is not immune to chemical contamination. Shand explains, “Toxin exposure is less of an issue with organic fruit and vegetables, but produce is still handled and exposed to other potential contaminants, so it’s best to wash everything before eating.”

Shand also urges washing bagged salads and items that are marketed as “washed and ready to eat.”

There are many commercial veggie cleaners on the market, but Shand insists you can clean your produce at home with common kitchen items and her four-step method.

Jessica Shand’s produce detox method

1. Place produce in a clean sink filled with fresh water — filtered water is preferable. Pour in one part apple cider vinegar — or just a big glug — to three parts water.

Shand explains, “Apple cider vinegar is rich in anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, making it an ideal natural food source to detox your produce. You could also use baking soda — adding one teaspoon to two cups of water.”

Apple cider vinegar has also been lauded for its potential weight-loss properties — but there is little scientific evidence that’s the case.

2. “Using a vegetable brush, gently brush each individual piece of veg then allow to soak for 15 mins. Finally, rinse,” Shand told British Vogue. “If you’re washing berries, add them to a colander and submerge them into the water for a maximum of five minutes — any longer and they will go mushy.”

Tawashi brushes, made from palm fibers, are particularly useful for removing dirt from root veggies.

3. Remove your fruits and veggies from the sink and dry them with a tea towel. Let berries air dry on a towel for an hour.

4. Transfer the produce into glass, not plastic containers to keep them fresher for longer.