Looking to Avoid Pesticides? Here’s the Healthiest Fruit to Eat

Pesticides are used in agriculture to maximize yields by preventing certain pests from destroying crops. Unfortunately, these plant protection products persist in the soil and pollute it, just like the water or food on which they are sprayed. And this is not without risk to our health.

Cherry or apricot… Choose the organic version

To limit exposure to pesticides and thus reduce their carcinogenic effects or those affecting our fertility, it is recommended to eat organic. But this is not accessible to everyone, for financial reasons in particular.

According to the Que Choisir observatory, cherries and apricots are two fruits that are particularly exposed to phytosanitary products. But they are not the only ones. Melons, apples, pears, strawberries, bananas, nectarines and grapefruits are also very affected by these pesticides in conventional agriculture.

According to Frank Devlieghere, a microbiologist at UGent and interviewed by the Belgian media 7sur7, it is also preferable to wash your fruit before eating it. Bananas, avocados or melons too, even if this will not completely remove the pesticides present.It is not possible to completely eliminate them by washing the fruit or vegetable.” he assures. “But it has the advantage of eliminating bacteria present on the surface of these foods.”

Avocado, the least polluted fruit?

Among fruits, there is one that would be less polluted by pesticides than the others, according to Que Choisir. It is the kiwi. However, it is difficult to consume it locally.

The other alternative is the avocado, according to different classifications. But again, its cultivation consumes a lot of water and it is usually imported too, which maximizes its carbon footprint. In addition, the hype around this fruit, catalogued as a “healthy superfood”, is the reason why demand is growing in Western countries.

According to The Conversation, “The explosion in demand for avocados in Europe and North America has led to a tripling of global production in just over 20 years”.

Also, according to researcher Thomas Davies, author of the article, ““So the best advice we can give consumers is to opt for other varieties of avocados where possible, to reduce the demand for monoculture plantations. Where these varieties are not available, the best thing to do is probably to keep avocados as a treat rather than a regular staple.”

Finally, as Professor Franklin Joseph of Dr. Frank’s Weight Loss Clinic points out, Gloucestershire Live : “A medium-sized avocado contains about 240 calories, more than a Mars bar which contains 177. It is therefore advisable to exercise moderation when enjoying this fruit”.