Fruit and Vegetable Wash

[Naoko]

I have a question about preparing fresh fruit and vegetables,
what do you typically use to rinse off the dirt from your fruit and veg,also do you use tap or filtered water,to keep your fresh produce as 'organic' as possible?

[Kirsteen]

Talk about serendipity. It was just today that the Health Ranger posted an article about making inexpensive and safe produce washes http://www.naturalnews.com/028277_pesticides_fresh_produce.html here

The two recipies he gave are

Produce Wash 1
- 20 drops grapefruit seed extract, available at health food stores
- 1 Tablespoon baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- New spray bottle

Produce Wash 2
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- New spray bottle

Spray produce. Let sit 5-10 minutes and rinse thoroughly to wash away residue.

NOTE: The baking soda and vinegar will foam when mixed together. Make sure you use a deep pitcher and pour slowly.

The article obviously tells you more about it.

I also make my own colloidal silver and up til now I've been adding some of that to the washing water but it's nice to have a choice

[Naoko]

Thats excellent,do you have any suggestions for a good juicer,I spent a quarter of my day searching the net for one,all the ones I found for wheatgrass and fruit and veg juice were a little out of my budget though. :(

[Jax]

There's a hand juicer about for wheatgrass (sorry can't remember the make - but Karen should know) and then you could get a cheaper fruit/veg juicer.

[haverawcake]

I soak my fruit and vegetables in a solution of cider vinegar for 20 minutes - as far as I know it kills off most things we wouldn't want to eat. See this link for more info (http://www.haverawcakeandeatit.co.uk/raw_food_uk/FOOD_PREPARATION.html). I generally use filtered water too. I tend to only eat organic. If I did not eat organic I would soak them in something stronger.

[Naoko]

When you say stronger,what do you mean by that,what would be the best solution?

[karen @rawchocolateheaven]

I like my Z Star hand juicer, manages wheat grass very well, did a coomparison with green star and very little difference...only big difference is green star (£450) can keep going where as Z Star needs emptying if you do more than 3 shots but costs £85.
We take ours camping and enjoy fresh veg, leaf, fruit juices and should be able to make ground nuts...not tried them yet.

[haverawcake]

Quote from my Book Healing with Wholefoods by Paul Pitchford (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/1556434308?tag=wwwhaverawcak-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=am1&creativeASIN=1556434308&adid=09YR9E9BJ1VHXVA5DHN3&) (page 572)
"Salads often include raw vegetables and fruits which may contain hosts in the form of parasites and other undesirable microorganisms. To remove these, soak all greens, roots and other produce to be eaten raw in a mild solution of apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes. Use one tablespoon vinegar per gallon of soak water or 1/4 cup vinegar in a sinkful.
Hydrogen peroxide also removes parasites and denatures the poison sprays found on non-organic produce more effectively than vinegar........ One may use regular hydrogen peroxide: convenient quart or gallon sizes can be ordered at drug stores."
I buy bulk 5 litre containers of cider vinegar and it lasts me for ages.
Annette