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Is Organic a strict requisite? Not really

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There is always this debate on what is organic and oh organic foods are so expensive? in the third and last blog of the series on how we consume foods that can be hazardous to our health due to various reasons, in today’s blog we talk of is organic food a strict requirement to eat healthily?

Please keep in mind that we are in no way trying to say that consuming organic food is not necessary. This blog here is purely intended to give you an insight into those fruits and veggies that you don’t necessarily have to buy organic if you are planning to cut down on your expenditure. It is no secret that organic food is expensive, with a steady rise in demand for organic produce, the prices are hiking relatively. We live in a world where almost every conventionally produced food item comes adulterated with many chemicals and pesticides. The silver lining is that there are still some edibles out there which are least likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues. So if budget is a concern, you can buy the conventional production of these food items.

  1. Avocados

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For all the guacamole lovers out there, rejoice. Avocados have very little pesticide residue on it. This makes avocados a safe conventional product to consume.

  1. Sweet Corn

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Worried of pesticides? Sweet corn is a very safe option to choose from among conventional produces. It is one of the cleanest foods you can buy.

  1. Pineapples

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My personal favourite, we all love Pineapples, don’t we? The thick skin absorbs most of the pesticides residues used on pineapples. Don’t let your budget shadow your love for pineapples. Buy them conventionally.

  1. Papayas

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It’s hard to imagine your fruit salad without papayas. That would be like The Beatles without McCartney. You need not worry, a large percentage of papaya generally come with no pesticide residues in them. And hence, it is a very safe option to choose from conventional foods.

  1. Cabbage

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I’m surprised to find cabbage in the list. Their leafy exterior is bound to have pesticide residue, but that isn’t the truth. Apparently, the leafy exterior tends to leave a very little residue, making cabbage a safe conventional produce to consume.

  1. Onions

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As we all know, cutting an onion literally brings you to tears. Cultivators tend to use fewer pesticides on Onions because not a lot of pests try to mess with onion due to their lethal defensive mechanism.

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6 Effective DIY Techniques to Clean Pesticides of Fruits & Vegetables

 

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This is the second blog in the series of Hazardous chemicals in our food products. In today’s blog, we take you through some DIY ( do it on your own) techniques to clean your fruits and vegetables. Read part 1 here: https://goqii.com/blog/invisible-health-hazards-lurking-in-your-kitchen/

Fruits and Vegetables are irreplaceable ingredients of our everyday diet. Apart from the fact that they’re delicious, they are also packed with various nutrients and minerals. The paradox here is that these health powerhouses are coated with various disinfectants and pesticides which are extremely hazardous for health. It’s almost impossible to list the pesticides found in vegetables and fruits as there are over 1000 different varieties which are used to grow crops.

Even though minor amounts of pesticide residue on food doesn’t really pose a great health hazard, you should be careful of what you buy and also where you buy them from. There are many simple and effective ways to remove these toxic chemicals from your food which can be done at home.

  1. Salt Water Wash

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 Saltwater wash is one of the easiest technique of washing your food. The Saltwater solution will remove most contact pesticides that are present in your food. All you need to do to make the solution is to add 1tbsp sea salt into a bowl which is half filled with water. Hand scrub your fruits and veggies in the solution and ensure to rinse thoroughly before consumption.

  1. Vinegar Soak

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 Create a solution adding 90% water and 10% white vinegar and let the fruits/vegetables soak in the mixture. Stir your fruits and veggies in the solution and leave them for about 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly with cold water before using. You must be careful while washing fruits with thin skin as the solution might damage their porous outer skin.

  1. Lemon Juice Spray

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Lemon juice spray has proven to be a very effective way of removing pesticides from your food. The citric acid in lemon juice not only helps in removing pesticides but also helps in killing the microorganisms on the outer surface. To create the spray, mix 1 tbsp of lemon juice, 2 tbsp of baking soda and 1 cup of water. After making sure that the baking soda is properly dissolved, pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle. Leave the spray on your fruits and veggies for about 5-10 minutes before you rinse it off with water.

  1. Trim the Edges

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 Many vegetables, mainly the leafy ones like lettuce, cabbage, celery etc tend to have an abundant amount of micro-organisms and pesticide residue on their outer surface. Even though washing them under running water helps remove some of them, chopping the top and outer layers of these veggies will ensure more cleanliness.

  1. Peeling

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We are no strangers to peeling, it is one of the most basic methods used in households to discard those harmful microbes and pesticides. Most fruit peels contain many essential nutrients, hence it isn’t always the best way to clean your food but peeling of the outer surface of your food will ensure a cleaner, pesticide-free produce.

  1. Baking Soda Scrub

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It is important to know that this method only works with foods which have a hard skin and don’t easily wear off. All this technique requires you to do is sprinkle some baking soda over your eatables and rub them together gently. Ensure to wash them off thoroughly before use.

In our busy daily lives, going an extra mile to clean your eatables is almost deemed impossible but it is important to understand that health is our most prized possession and spending 10 minutes to clean your food properly can avoid many serious diseases and illnesses.

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Invisible Health Hazards Lurking In Your Kitchen

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Intro:

Two months ago, we had a suggestion from one of our players on how the pesticide residues in food products can cause harm to our health including diseases like cancer, over a period of time. “From food grains to vegetables to fruits, everything is grown and ripened with the help of chemicals. Even so-called organic foodstuff is not 100% trustworthy. Moreover, organic food is not available everywhere and for every food item, and is very expensive. Having a pesticide-free diet is impossible in today’s India – it’s the bitter truth of current times,” he said. According to him, despite consuming a healthy diet, we have also been unknowingly consuming harmful chemicals with it. This also includes some cooking aids (like non-stick cookware, and cooking techniques like over grilling/ charring of meat in barbeques/ fire). Given that we encounter these hazards on a daily basis, it has become imperative for each one of us to be cautious. We need to be aware of which food and food parts (eg peels) are most likely to be laced with pesticides or harmful chemicals (just an example being mangoes ripened with calcium carbide or apples polished with wax) and how best to remove these. 

GOQii’s content team has come up with 3 blogs around these issues. Today, we publish the first of the blog in this series- ‘Invisible Health Hazards Lurking In Your Kitchen’. 

  Invisible Health Hazards Lurking In Your Kitchen

The kitchen is, in fact, the most sanitary zone in our houses. It is so because the food is prepared in the kitchen and none of us wants to consume food which is prepared under unhygienic conditions. When you read the title, you might think to yourself that it can’t be possible because I always keep my kitchen clean. Unfortunately, the health hazards mentioned in this blog doesn’t revolve around hygiene but focuses on the invisible dangers that lurk in your kitchen, which on a normal day does not meet your eye or cross your mind.

Is your kitchenware poisoning you?

Yes, you read that right. Did you know that certain utensils in your kitchen might be discharging toxic fumes and chemicals into your food? Over a period of time, these substances sediment in your body, posing a great threat to your health.

  1. Non-Stick Pans

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Teflon is also known as PTFE is the name of that special coating on your pan which makes it Non-Sticky. When these pans are overheated or left on the stove for too long, PTFE releases fumes which are toxic, causing symptoms like flu in human beings. The chemical perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA used in the production of PTFE has been condemned by experts for its carcinogenic properties.

 2. Plastic Food Containers

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Despite the recent ban of plastic in some parts of the country, Plastic still plays an important role in most people’s everyday life. From wrappers to containers, plastic is all over. Plastic contains chemicals like Bisphenol A and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) that can infiltrate your food. When you carry hot edibles in these plastic containers or microwave your food in them, the heat accelerates the emission of these chemicals, serving you a toxic delicacy.

3. Plastic Cutting Boards

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While, the debate over what kind of cutting boards are the safest to use continues, plastic definitely should not be your choice. After all the slicing and dicing carried out on your cutting board, you might notice little cuts and nicks across the surface like a soldier’s battle scars. Those cuts and fissures are the breeding grounds of many a dangerous bacteria, mainly E.Coli and Salmonella. Ever wondered where those fractions of plastic from the crevices disappeared? Think no more, they were in the food you chopped and later on consumed.

Is your cooking technique making the food toxic?

That might probably be the truth. In today’s world where there’s not enough time for anything, fast cooking has definitely claimed a spot for itself. Here’s how your technique maybe poisoning your food:

  1. Charring Food

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This process not only takes away almost every nutrient present in your food but also adds toxins to fill the gaps. One should always try to grill your food lightly to avoid charring. Grilling should only be done to an extent where the outsides of the foods are barely brown in texture and the insides are grilled to a minimum.

  1. Deep Frying

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Fried food is undeniably delicious but it is important to know that deep frying the food makes it bathe in oxidized fats, denatured proteins, and glycated sugars. The high temperature involved in deep frying creates toxic compounds which lead to cancer. Think twice before pouncing on to those French Fries next time.

  1. Frequent Microwaving

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In today’s fast-paced life that we all lead, Microwave could be considered as a boon. But, did you know that the food loses most of the nutrients after it’s put into the microwave? It is advised to stay use them only when it’s very necessary and not as a matter of convenience on a daily basis. It is also advised to stay away from the microwave while it is working as the device emits electromagnetic radiations which over time can have very adverse effects on human health. Long-term exposure might considerably increase your chances of developing illnesses like cancer.

 

 

 

 

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Foods for healthy bones

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Bones are a crucial part of our body. They are responsible for many of our body’s crucial functions, including movement, organ protection, production of blood cells, storage of minerals, and support for the rest of our body. Strong bones are like the foundations and support walls of a building; if they are strong the building is strong and can weather all sorts of conditions for years to come. Healthy, strong bones enable us to lead long, healthy life.

A balanced diet rich in fresh, whole foods is the foundation for good bone health. For strong bones, the key nutrients we look for is Protein, calcium, vitamin D, Fruits and vegetable (antioxidants).

Protein

  • Protein helps to form collagen fibre which is the framework for bones. Adequate intake of protein is necessary for healthy bones. Low protein intake can create a risk of bone fracture

Calcium

  • Supports your bones and teeth structure, while Vitamin D improves calcium absorption and bone growth.

Fruits and vegetables:

  • Most of the fruits and green leafy vegetables are a good source of potassium which helps to promote the bone health
  • Fruits and vegetables are a good source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals …thus help to maintain muscles and support them

Good food for bones

Foods Nutrients
Dairy products: Milk, curd, buttermilk, Paneer, Chesse Calcium
Ragi, Til, Rajgeera, coconut Cereals
Lean Meat: fish, chicken and  egg whites, Sprouts and pulses Protein
Sunlight Vitamin D
Banana, sweet lime, orange, muskmelon Fruits  ( High in potassium )
All green leafy vegetables like methi, cabbage, cauliflower leaves, kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, aluwadi (Colocasia/Taro) leaves Vegetables ( source of potassium )

Tips to increase bone health

  • After your 30’s keep a check for vitamin D and calcium levels in your body.
  • Have foods that are rich in calcium, proteins, vitamin and minerals
  • Quit Smoking as smoking increases bone loss. Limit your drinking. Decreased estrogen level in women thus leads to low absorption of calcium which leads to loss of bones and drinking hinders the calcium absorption.
  • Avoid table salt (avoid too much of sodium) in food as it leaches the calcium from the bones (Restrict processed food where salt is used as preventives), use tomatoes, tamarind pulp, lemon to restrict the salt intake.
  • Stay active. Walking is the best exercise or try weight-bearing exercise against gravity as it strengths the bone by stimulating bone cells which helps the bone to become denser and stronger.

Not looking after your bones can increase your risk of breaks and this can impact your health. A break can affect your quality of life and even cause severe pain or disability.

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