Heavy metals in vegetables
Vegetables that have a natural affinity for certain metals, absorb them from the soil which gets it from ground water or irrigation water.
What can you do about it?
1. Clean and wash the vegetables and leaves thoroughly, first in salt water, then in normal water.
2. Cook vegetables in water to dilute the concentration of the metals. Blanch green leafy vegetables before using them in cooking, don't use them raw.
3. Eat more vitamin C and antioxidant-rich foods to counteract the potential negative effects of heavy metals.
4. IMPORTANT: For baby food, wash and cook vegetables and fruits in water thoroughly before pureeing to keep the concentration of heavy metals to a minimum. Given their small body weight, even a smaller dosage of heavy metals over a long period of time can have an impact on their health.
5. As leafy vegetables have more concentration of heavy metals, avoid using them in juices, smoothies or baby food. Wash thoroughly, blanch them and then use them for cooking.
6. Consider growing your own greens in pots on your window sill or balcony. This provides a steady supply of fresh, home-grown produce.
7. A point to note is that buying organic doesn't guarantee that the produce is free from heavy metals, as they can seep into vegetables from the irrigation water.
Be informed and continue to eat your vegetables, as they are one of the most important food groups in our diet. more
What can you do about it?
1. Clean and wash the vegetables and leaves thoroughly, first in salt water, then in normal water.
2. Cook vegetables in water to dilute the concentration of the metals. Blanch green leafy vegetables before using them in cooking, don't use them raw.
3. Eat more vitamin C and antioxidant-rich foods to counteract the potential negative effects of heavy metals.
4. IMPORTANT: For baby food, wash and cook vegetables and fruits in water thoroughly before pureeing to keep the concentration of heavy metals to a minimum. Given their small body weight, even a smaller dosage of heavy metals over a long period of time can have an impact on their health.
5. As leafy vegetables have more concentration of heavy metals, avoid using them in juices, smoothies or baby food. Wash thoroughly, blanch them and then use them for cooking.
6. Consider growing your own greens in pots on your window sill or balcony. This provides a steady supply of fresh, home-grown produce.
7. A point to note is that buying organic doesn't guarantee that the produce is free from heavy metals, as they can seep into vegetables from the irrigation water.
Be informed and continue to eat your vegetables, as they are one of the most important food groups in our diet. more
Viewed by 218
Government can not be every where however stringent rules to avoid this should be framed and strictly adhered too. For this Judiciary should be active in deciding such cases. more
Nov 27
There is a norm to spray or application of Inorganic Fertilizer/ Pesticide/Insecticide etc to the vegetables or fruits etc . According to norms this must be applied before hours to days of consumption and it varies from different vegetables and fruits. But nowadays for profit maximization traders and some farmers are not following any norm and we are suffering. more
Nov 27
How a large chunk of population take such precautions? Govt. should control excess use of insecticides n pesticides. Test all eatables being sold at retail points like USDFA. This will help all. more
Nov 25
Since farmers and (wholesale) vendors are also prone to 'profit maximization', which is the order in all other fields, how can government and agencies effectively regulate producers and marketers of fruits & vegetables, rather any edible item?.... Each individual must safeguard themself adequately.... more
Nov 26
