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To Wash or Not to Wash?

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I was talking to a friend this weekend who said she rarely washes her produce, and frankly, I was shocked. She said that since she always buys organic, she doesn't have to worry about pesticides, and wonders if washing really does any good anyway.

In fact, washing fruits and vegetables makes a difference whether you're buying organic or not. Even if your produce hasn't been touched by pesticides, it has been touched by lots of people and traveled through many different places. As a result, even organic produce could carry bacteria such as listeria and salmonella. For that reason, you should even wash fruits you peel, such as bananas and lemons, so that the bacteria isn't transferred from your hands to your food.

Though there's no guarantee that washing your produce will eliminate all chance of contamination, rinsing it under running water helps blast away impurities. For more on how and why to wash,

12 Foods With High Amounts of Pesticides

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:00:00 -0700

With all this talk about getting our daily servings of fruits and veggies, we may forget about other concerns on those foods aside from nutrients: pesticides, some of which have been classified as cancer-causing agents.

I eat a lot of fruits and veggies so I do my best to avoid pesticides but some foods have more than others, and it's hard to keep track. In an effort to make your next trip to the grocery store a little easier, here are the top twelve fruits and vegetables that contain the greatest amounts of pesticide residue:

peaches
strawberries
apples
spinach
nectarines
celery
pears
cherries
potatoes
sweet bell peppers
raspberries
grapes (imported)

Looking to get the least pesticides in your diet? Then

Strawberries: In Season Now and So Good for You

FitSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:45:00 -0700

In case you aren't already in love with strawberries, I have some reasons to get the love fest with this berry started!!! They are a low calorie food loaded like a billionaire, with antioxidants known as phenols. These phenols not only give strawberries their irresistible red color, but also provide heart-protective, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties to this berry. A veritable trifecta of benefits.

The other superlative characteristic of strawberries is the amount of vitamin C they contain. One cup of berries provides well over 125% of the daily RDI of vitamin C. Now you might recall, that organic fruits contain more vitamin C so I think it is well worth it to buy organic strawberries. Another reason to go organic with these berries is they have been found to have the highest amounts of pesticide residue when compared with other produce. Strawberry season is here so the cost of a pint should be falling and they should be abundant at your local farmer's market.

Now I am sure you already know the joys of strawberry shortcake, if not PartySugar will teach you how to make it. But, the berries are not just for dessert anymore. Oh no...you can put them on a salad too. My favorite way to eat them, however, is straight up. Not sliced, no extra sugar, no cream, I just pop them straight into my mouth - after washing them of course.

And you? How do you like to eat your strawberries? Tell me in the comment section below.