Today USA pesticide-contaminated fruit is apples

this day : USA pesticide-contaminated fruit is apples

In the vast majority of cases, residues of the 48 different pesticides the USDA found in its sampling of apples—the nation's most widely consumed fresh fruit after bananas—were within amounts that federal regulators consider safe to eat.

Environmental Working Group has released the seventh edition of its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce with updated information on 53 fruits and vegetables and their total pesticide loads. EWG highlights the worst offenders with its “Dirty Dozen” list and the cleanest conventional produce with its “Clean 15” list.

Analysts at EWG synthesized data collected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration from 2000 to 2009. Produce is ranked based on a composite score, equally weighing six factors that reflect how many pesticides was found in testing of on each type of the produce and at what levels. Most samples are washed and peeled prior to being tested, so the rankings reflect the amounts of the chemicals likely present on the food when is it eaten.

Notable changes in the new guide included apples’ rank as the most contaminated produce, jumping three spots from last year to replace celery at the top of the “Dirty Dozen” list. According to USDA, pesticides showed up on 98 percent of the more than 700 apple samples tested.

Its seventh annual report analyzed government data on 53 fruits and vegetables, identifying which have the most and least pesticides after washing and peeling. For produce found to be highest in pesticides, the group recommends buying organic.

Apples moved up three spots from last year, replacing celery at the top of the most-contaminated list; 92% of apples contained two or more pesticides.

"We think what's happening to apples is more pesticides and fungicides are being applied after the harvest so the fruit can have a longer shelf life," says EWG analyst Sonya Lunder. "Pesticides might be in small amounts, but we don't know what the subtle, long-term effects of many of these pesticides are yet."

The worst offenders also include strawberries (No. 3) and imported grapes (No. 7). Onions top the "clean" list, found to be lowest in pesticides.

By choosing five servings of fruit and vegetables a day from the clean list, most people can lower the volume of pesticides they consume daily by 92%, the report says.

"Consumers don't want pesticides on their foods," says EWG president Ken Cook. "We eat plenty of apples in our house, but we buy organic when we can."

Rankings reflect the amounts of chemicals present on food when it is eaten. Most samples were washed and peeled before testing. Washing with a "produce wash" is unlikely to help remove pesticides because they're taken up by the entire plant and reside on more than just the skin, the report says.

For shoppers who cannot afford organic food, which often is more expensive, Cook says the lists offer alternatives. Can't find organic apples? Buy pineapples, the top fruit on the clean list, or avocados or mangoes.

Fewer than 10% of pineapple, mango and avocado samples showed pesticides. For vegetables, asparagus, corn and onions had no detectable residue on 90% or more of samples.

Pesticides are known to be toxic to the nervous system, cause cancer, disrupt hormones and cause brain damage in children. Pregnant women are advised to avoid foods containing pesticides.

A study by Harvard School of Public Health found children exposed to pesticides had a higher risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Lunder says pesticides were measured in six different ways to calculate overall scores:

1. the percentage of samples tested with detectable pesticides.
2. the percentage of samples with two or more pesticides.
3. the Average number of pesticides found on a single sample.
4. the Average amount (level in parts per million) of all pesticides found.
5. the Maximum number of pesticides found on a single sample.
6. the Total number of pesticides found on the commodity.

Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables from the "dirty dozen" list would mean you'd get an average of 14 different pesticides. By choosing five from the clean list, you'd consumer fewer than two pesticides.

"With the increased emphasis on eating more fruits and vegetables, we need to be vigilant about the food we're producing and serving," Lunder says.

While the amount of pesticide on any individual piece of produce might not pose a risk, the group advocates buying organic versions of the fruits and vegetables that pose the highest risks.

"Though buying organic is always the best choice, we know that sometimes people do not have access to that produce or cannot afford it," said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, in a news release. "Our guide helps consumers concerned about pesticides to make better choices among conventional produce, and lets them know which fruits and vegetables they may want to buy organic."

An official with the Michigan apple industry said that the vast majority of produce tested by the federal government falls within levels considered safe for pesticide residues.

"Just because you can find trace amounts doesn't mean it's unhealthful," said Denise Donohue, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. "You can detect miniscule amounts of almost anything."

Michigan is the nation's third-largest producer of apples, which support a $700 million industry.

Michigan's wet climate doesn't allow for any significant amount of organic apple farming, Donohue said. Almost all of those grown organically are processed.

The environmental group and agricultural and dietary groups all agree that no matter the risk of trace amounts of pesticides, it's far better to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables than to stop eating them.

And washing fruits can help remove some pesticides, as well.

Pesticides in unhealthy amounts have been linked to brain and nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone disruption and skin, eye and lung irritation, according to the environmental group.

source : From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110613/LIFESTYLE05/106130419/Apples-top-list-of-produce-with-most-pesticide-residue#ixzz1PKAeRtJI

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303848104576381671610587348.html

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/safety/story/2011/06/Apples-top-list-of-produce-contaminated-with-pesticides/48332000/1

http://www.ewg.org/release/ewgs-2011-shoppers-guide-helps-cut-consumer-pesticide-exposure

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Jambu batu - guava benefits for health

Jambu batu - guava benefits for health
Or guava Psidium guajava is a shrub plant that many branch. Height can reach 12 meters, while the leaves are oval shaped, rough and dull. It also has white flowers and fruit contain many seeds. This plant is widely grown in plantations in the house and the land is rocky. This plant can reach a height of 1200 meters above sea level. This plant is included in the Myrtaceae family or tribe.
These plants contain tannins in the leaves, bark and fruit. It also contains lots of fats, resins, volatile oils and mineral salts. Guava also contains a guaijaverin avikularin and antibacterial medicines.
Guava has many uses, including the roots, stems, and leaves the skin and boiled in boiling water, then drink the water that is suitable for treating abdominal pain and diarrhea. Broth can also be used to clean the mucous membranes found in the intestines of infants (prolapsysani). Wounds can be treated with guava leaves when the leaves are pounded and patched the wound site. Figure: Annex 6

Guava is the most nutritious fruit for vitamins and minerals to the human body ...
The fruit is also effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels and are very nice people if eaten every day.
Guava are grouped under a lot of functional foods to benefit human health.
However, guava fruit intake should be made in sufficient numbers to ensure that the food is able to respond effectively to the body.
Head of Unit for Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Dr. Rokiah Yusof said, people are advised to take the pink stone of 400 grams a day, a half for four weeks.
According to him, the fruit should be eaten with the covers, all because they contain high nutrients.
In addition eaten guava juice, but can also be made to the original method of preparation does not have sugar in them.
Dr. Rokiah told, guava taken according to a balanced diet, especially for those who have weight problems.
He advised that the guava makes it a standard practice in the diet.
He said, for those who are facing problems of high cholesterol in the blood, reduce cholesterol guava is 18.8 per cent in the week.
"But patients must take guava daily to ensure its effectiveness,''he said.

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Dutch Durian benefits for health

DURIAN BELANDA - Dutch Durian benefits for health
Perhaps many are not aware of stems, roots, seeds and fruit of Annona muricata Holland, Annona family) have many benefits for the use of traditional and modern.
According to the study, the Dutch durian fruit is soft shell, which is rather rare spines sharp, able to treat and prevent someone from getting cancer, and couples who want to nourish the offspring.
People in the Andes, Peru, a powdered tea from the leaves to treat sore throats.
The seeds are crushed into powder specifically to kill parasites in the human body, such as worms.
While the population of the Amazon used the roots, bark and leaves, are believed to cure diabetes.
Similarly, the Aboriginal tribes in Guyana made of powdered tea leaves and bark to make a tonic drink essentially to help solve the problem of the heart and liver disease.
They also get the oil from the leaves or young fruit and then mixed with olive oil for external use to solve problems and sore joints, sore limbs.
In Jamaica, Haiti and West India, the fruit and drinking water extraction as the Dutch durian fever medication, kills worms in the stomach and the right of children diarrhea medicine.
Bark is also believed to be suitable to help cure heart disease and cough while helping to restore the fertility of couples who have children is difficult. Other uses are as a cure malaria and stomach ulcers.
Especially for women who have just given birth, Guyana Native women are encouraged to continue drinking juice or eating fruit to increase breast milk production while avoiding the problem of tension.
In terms of modern medicine, the study found that the two universities, the material contained in the fruit can be used as Dutch aktibakteria, anticancer, antitumor, astrigen and neurological diseases. Dutch Durian contains amyloid, citric acid, fructose, manganese, sucrose, reticuline and tannin.

ANNONACEAE - Dutch Durian
Soursop
- Uses:
Malay community to use these plants for treating swelling and abscess, and also for skin diseases in children.

- Distribution & Ecology:
This species comes from South America and probably brought in by the Dutch. In Perlis, it is widely cultivated for its fruits.

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benefits CAMU CAMU Superfruit - enhanced health

benefits CAMU CAMU Superfruit - enhanced health
CAMU CAMU is a plant found in the Amazonian rainforest Peru. Plant itself is a shrub and it is similar in shape and size of the grapes. It is an edible fruit with very sour taste, non-toxic. It is doubtful the fruit actually enjoyed when diluted as it is very acidic. The tree product is a red fruit with a yellow flesh, about two inches in diameter and the skin is leathery. The taste is reported, that extremely acidic and can be better appreciated in recipes with added sugar.
CAMU CAMU Berry is used to make drinks. You have a pleasant taste and colour and are so often used to ice cream, sweets and similar dishes. The fruit has popularity now in many countries. Here is an overview of the CAMU CAMU benefits.

Health benefits of CAMU CAMU
CAMU CAMU is very rich in vitamin c. The part of, what it than a sour taste. This vitamin C, like other vitamin C is good for the strengthening of the immune system and prove, antioxidants, free radicals, to reduce the technical risk of cancer and fight the harmful effects of aging on the skin. It is important to note that the extremely high content of vitamin C in it, if she is very young, before it is fully ripe. Buy over the counter closed, it is impossible to know whether the plants for additions to the optimum time were used to gain benefits of vitamin C to harvest or not.
CAMU CAMU Berry is very effective in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, asthma, colds, depression, cataracts, gingivitis, edema, glaucoma, infertility, hepatitis, migraine, arthritis, Morbus Parkinson, etc. displayed. Deal CAMU CAMU was one number in the order of the effectiveness of the above health conditions among hundreds of herbs. It has antiviral, antioxidant and anti mutagenic properties.
It is also an antidepressant because it better helps your brain chemical balance and improve chemicals lift your mood. Improves liver function. They support detoxification and helps in the Elimination of harmful chemicals. They also prevent liver diseases and almost all kinds of eye problems.
Vitamin c also promotes the health of the nervous system and the proper formation neurotransmitter CAMU has the following advantages. It features the ability to increase serotonin levels, a measure which is responsible for reports that it relief for depression and a reduced dependence on prescription antidepressants.
The fruit is in the fight against herpes virus, herpes, cold sores, between, shingles, and the Epstein-Barr. The high content of vitamin C in CAMU CAMU helps mouth, lungs, esophagus and throat lower the risk and the prevention of various types of cancer with colon, stomach, connected. It is known to demonstrate a variety of effects as energy efficiency, mood lifting and strengthening the immune system. The fruit helps healthy gums, eyes, skin and connective tissue. CAMU CAMU is very effective in improving the red and white blood cells, blood circulation and lower blood pressure.
Rather not FDA say Administration about the safety or efficacy of CAMU CAMU which U.S.. It is doubtful that this plant will ever reach that ears, but we will see. If you plan a nutritional supplement with CAMU CAMU, it is important that you discuss this with your doctor. He or she can tell you whether it is a good idea, this addition to the diet.
Eco-OLA specializes in wholesale of superfoods such as Sacha InChI and CAMU CAMU from the Amazon rainforest. Sell everything eco OLA comes directly to you from the farm.

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