10 most contaminated foods with the use of pesticides

Often when we leave the markets with a bag full of fruits and vegetables, we believe that we are guaranteeing a super healthy diet free of substances that can be harmful to our health. But unfortunately the reality is not so beautiful.

According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), Brazil is the largest user of pesticides in the world, using more than one million tons per year, giving a total of 5.2 kg of pesticides per Brazilian. However, while increasing production, pesticides pollute the environment and food and are often used without any regulation or control.

In general, more than 30% of the food consumed by Brazilians is not suitable for food because they contain high levels of pesticide residues. Concerned with this reality, the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) created the Pesticide Residue Analysis Program (PARA) and periodically carries out studies to verify the amount of pesticide residues in food.

Foods must have less residue than the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). In its last report, released in 2012, ANVISA pointed to zucchini as the food with the highest amount of pesticides, followed by lettuce, grapes and tomatoes. In previous studies, released in 2010, the agency pointed to peppers as the most contaminated food, followed by strawberries.

The 10 foods that receive the most pesticides

According to agronomist Prof. Dr. Adilson de Castro Antônio, from the Federal University of Viçosa, the Brazilian Association of Seeds and Seedlings Trade (ABCSEM) identified in a study carried out in 2010 the 10 vegetables that received the most pesticides that year.

It is important to emphasize that the foods most sprayed with pesticides are always varying, as the use or not of pesticides is a choice of the producer, who can opt for a technique called biological control that is much less aggressive to the food.

In the list below are the 10 foods that most commonly receive pesticides in their cultivation according to ABCSEM, followed by their benefits and cultivation methods. It is worth mentioning that to grow food at home, you need to take some basic care: having the necessary tools, preparing the soil well, watering regularly and investing in natural repellents.

1. Tomato

Tomato is an extremely sensitive food to diseases, so there is a need to use pesticides in its cultivation in a high way. Despite the high level of contamination, if produced with quality, tomatoes only bring benefits: they are a source of antioxidants, help to prevent prostate cancer, contain significant amounts of vitamins, help to prevent diseases related to aging, improve the blood flow and circulation among other benefits.

To make your home cultivation, it is always necessary to keep the soil moist, with good incidence of light and sheltered from the force of the wind, in addition to a well fertilized and fertilized soil. You can plant any type of tomato in pots, even some beginning gardeners prefer to start with cherry tomatoes. Its planting should be done between September and October.

2. Watermelon

The use of pesticides in watermelons is also high, and one of the reasons is the need to produce large fruits. Watermelon is a powerful source of antioxidants, as well as being rich in potassium, which helps detoxify the body and prevent kidney problems. Its consumption also helps to reduce the body’s blood pressure and protect the skin from free radicals.

It takes considerable space to grow it at home, but there are some solutions for growing watermelons in pots. The best planting time is in the month of August and this requires some care with the soil to avoid the attack of pests, such as: a bed of straw, wood or other material under each fruit to avoid its direct contact with the ground; turn the fruit every few days to give a uniform appearance and eliminate malformed fruit.

3. Onion

As they are the basis of food, onions are widely consumed and are produced on a large scale, which also places them on the list of foods that receive the most pesticides. Despite this, its consumption is extremely beneficial.

Onion helps control sugar levels in the body, promotes cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health, as well as helping with bone health and having anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. Onion is still rich in vitamin A, B1, B2, B3 and C, in iron and calcium.

For your cultivation at home, there are different ways of planting, some simpler and faster and others more complex and requiring greater dedication. Onions need extreme care with their roots as it is in them that the bulbs are formed. For this, your land must be heavily fertilized and the ideal is to use organic fertilizers, thus preventing the appearance of weeds, in addition, they need uniform moisture throughout their growth and should be planted around the month of August.

4. Zucchinis

In a recent study carried out by ANVISA, zucchini was listed as the food with the highest amount of pesticide residues. However, it is a food with countless benefits, such as: it is good for prostate health, it is an anti-inflammatory, it reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, it helps to prevent cancer and lower cholesterol.

For your cultivation at home, you need to pay attention to the type of zucchini, as each one will have different needs and different planting times. But in all cultivation it is necessary to remove weeds and diseased leaves and ensure pollination, even if this is done manually with the help of brushes. Without pollination, there is no fruit.

5. Lettuce

Lettuce is a widely consumed type of foliage, so it is also the result of large-scale production that uses excessive pesticides. Other than that fact, this simple food is extremely powerful. Lettuce contains few calories and is rich in nutrients, aiding in weight loss and because it contains fiber, it also helps with digestion and combating constipation.

In addition, lettuce is beneficial for the skin due to its nutrients, such as potassium, beta-carotene and vitamin C, and it is also good for the bones and eyes and also acts in the control of diabetes and in the fight against insomnia.

There are several types of lettuce and all can be grown at home. The seeds need to be planted in a pot with 1 cm deep of soil and as soon as they sprout they must be replanted with 7 cm of soil depth. These vegetables need to be grown with space and in 25 cm tall planters or crates. Its best planting time is between March and July.

6. Melons

Melon also receives many pesticides in its production, however, it is a very good food for health, as it helps to delay aging, protects against bacterial and viral infections, against heart disease and against osteoporosis, in addition to many other benefits. .

To grow the melon, the melon tree needs high light and plenty of water at the beginning of its planting, but little at the time of ripening, so it requires specific care. As it has a more complex planting process, it is difficult to grow melons at home.

7. Cucumber

Cucumber is also one of the leaders in pesticide residues as it is highly cultivated food, which encourages the use of pesticides to achieve high productivity.

The fruit has several benefits, such as: having a calming effect, having vitamins A, B, C and K, in addition to minerals. Due to its highly nutritious composition, it is good for the skin, cancer prevention, digestion, heart, diabetes control, among others.

When growing cucumbers at home, it is recommended to have high light conditions, in hot weather and without exposure to winds. Its planting season is between August and March. Watering the cucumber plant should be regular to keep the roots always moist, but never soggy.

8. Carrot

Carrots are one of the most consumed foods in Brazil, and due to this high demand, their production also uses pesticides. It is widely known for its tan related benefits, but they go far beyond that. It is good for the eyes, prevents the formation of cancers, has anti-aging action, leaves the skin looking healthy and shiny, is antiseptic, helps in the release of toxins, makes teeth and gums healthier, among many other benefits.

For home cultivation, the best time is between the months of October to March. Carrots need to be grown in extremely light and soft soil for their roots to grow healthily. Also, carrots prefer high light conditions with direct sun for their best growth.

9. Pepper

In a previous study carried out by ANVISA, peppers were the food with the highest amount of pesticide residues. Peppers are attacked by fungi and other pests, hence the excessive use of pesticides. On the other hand, bell peppers are an excellent natural antioxidant. Its intake regulates and protects stomach and intestines.

To grow it at home, the seedlings can be planted already in a large pot, with always moist soil and plenty of light, it is also recommended to use a stake to help with growth. The pepper needs some care to avoid pests and keep the seedlings, which are extremely sensitive, in small pots and only then plant them. The planting season is between August and January.

10. Cabbage

Cabbage is a cold climate food and usually also receives pesticides in its production. It is a food rich in vitamins A, C, E, K and those of the B complex, in addition to various types of minerals. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action and helps in preventing various degenerative diseases. Its fibers promote the proper functioning of the intestine, also helping in the recovery of ulcers and gastritis.

For home cultivation, it is recommended to choose a species with a warm climate and that tolerates higher temperatures. Its planting season is between July and August. An important fact when planting cabbage is that you should give a spacing of 30 to 60 cm, and that the greater the spacing, the larger the cabbage heads formed.

According to agronomist Daniel Bizelli Pedroso, other foods that use pesticides, even in greater amounts than the foods mentioned above, are grains, such as beans, soybeans and corn. When they are produced in large fields, there is little care to avoid contamination by pests and not lose the entire crop.

The specialist also added that the large food industries invest a lot in technologies to produce their crops with less aggressive pesticides and in food purification processes, especially in the cultivation of soy and corn, which results in foods with very low risk of contamination and high quality content. Therefore, it is important to invest in brands known for their quality and concern for the purity of…