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Did you Know?

Our planet is huge right? So, would you believe me if I told you that the average person walks around the world 5 times in their entire lifetime?! It's a crazy concept to put into perspective right? But the math speaks for itself. A moderately active person with the average stride walks about 7500 steps each day. If they maintained that average and lived until they were 80 years old they would walk

216, 262, 500 steps throughout their lifetime! This is the equivalent of about 110 000 miles which is about the same as walking 5 times around the Earth, directly on the equator!

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Did you Know?

The jewelry store is not the only place where you can find diamonds. Studies have found that it can RAIN DIAMONDS on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune! These diamonds are formed when methane gas gets struck by lightening turning the gas into soot which then transitions into graphite. Then, the process of diamond formation involves incredibly high temperatures which can go as high as 7000 degrees Celsius!

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How do you clean your produce?

When you’re out shopping for your produce do you ever pay attention to how many other people have touched that same apple that you have chosen to put in your pie? I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind. It’s why we always wash our fruits and vegetables with water before eating or cooking them. But, is washing them under running water sufficient enough? Does get rid of all of the bacteria?

If you’re a germaphobe like me this is something you have probably thought about in great detail, especially during covid season. Sometimes people pick up a vegetable only to inspect it and then put it right back because they decide that they do not want it. You have no idea if they have washed their hands before touching that vegetable and thus it is now contaminated with the bacteria from their hands. In fact, Salmonella and E. coli outbreaks have been linked with alfalfa and other sprouts. Since fruits and vegetables are usually eaten raw, they are one of the potential sources of food borne illnesses.

So how exactly should you clean your produce? Well, I have done some research and I’ll lay it all out for you so your food can be as clean as possible. However, quick disclaimer. Do not, and I cannot stress this enough, use soap, bleach, or hot water to clean your produce. The biggest reason for this is because using hot water can cause the fruits and veggies to cook and give rise to microorganisms inside the produce. Further, fruits and vegetables have pores, and these cleaning agents can seep through their pores and cause an upset stomach or other harmful health effects. Suffice to say, save the soap for your hands and NOT your fruit.

Anyways, one of the best ways to wash your fruits and vegetables is by rubbing them under cold water as you are rinsing them. Countless studies have shown that the act of rubbing is more effective at removing loosened dirt, softened wax, chemicals, and bacteria than just running water alone due to the friction from the act of rubbing. For firmer fruits and veggies like melons, carrots, or apples use a soft-bristle vegetable brush to scrub the surface as you are rinsing under cold water.

You can also use a homemade vinegar wash for cleaning. The acidity of the vinegar is what kills bacteria because the acid seeps into its’ cell membrane which results in protons being released, leading to cell death. To make this, you simply add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to 3 cups of water and mix. Then, place your produce in the solution, stir it, and simply use your fingers to remove any visible dirt. Let the produce sit in the solution for another 10 minutes. Next, drain the produce using a colander, rinse it off with water, and dry it off with a kitchen towel.

In addition, always remember to wash your own hands with antibacterial soap prior to washing your produce so that you do not contaminate your food with the bacteria from your hands.

Happy washing!

Check out these other articles for more tips on keeping your produce clean!

https://www.ashleylillis.com/blog/2019/4/11/how-to-clean-your-fruits-and-vegetables-with-vinegar

https://happyherbivore.com/2012/12/how-to-wash-veggies-baking-soda-vinegar/

https://www.armandhammer.com/articles/how-to-clean-fruits-and-vegetables

https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4336e/