Vegetables and fruit in spring

With the advent of spring, the first fruits appear on the shelves of stores. As a rule, they are all grown in hothouse conditions and are literally stuffed with nitrates. Therefore, many people who do not want to risk their family's health are interested in whether it is worth buying such products.

How to choose vegetables and fruits in the spring?

Almost all the products decorating the market counters, at first glance seems juicy and ripe. But, unfortunately, most of it does not meet the expectations of consumers. Despite the beautiful appearance, spring fruit To taste more like grass. This is due to the extremely low content of aromatic substances and sugar required for flavor. That's why you need to be very careful about the choice of such products.

Many experts recommend buying fruits in the spring Only in large retail chains. As a rule, such supermarkets deal with trusted suppliers whose products are of high quality. In addition, before going to the counter, it is subjected to a special test for the content of nitrates and other harmful substances.

Choosing fruit in the spring, It is necessary to pay special attention to their appearance. The fruits should not have any visible damage, because it is in the spoiled products that the rapid development and reproduction of pathogens, often causing serious poisoning, occurs. Do not buy too bright fruit. This coloration may indicate a high content of chemicals.

Why are such fruits dangerous?

Almost all beautiful fruits in the spring Contain an increased concentration of nitrates. Therefore, the regular use of such fruits often causes the appearance of allergic reactions, disruptions in the work of the gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland. In addition, nitrates accumulating in the body provoke severe intoxication.

The most dangerous fruit is one that contains nitrites formed during storage and culinary processing of fruits. The increased content of these substances can lead to the development of stomach cancer, oxygen starvation, cardiovascular and nervous system disorders.

Improperly selected fruits in the spring often cause diarrhea. As a rule, irritation of the intestine is caused by low carbohydrate content and excess fiber. As for vegetables and fresh greens, there may be an excess of pathogenic bacteria that cause serious harm to human health.

How is overseas products handled?

As a rule, all imported fruits And vegetables are subject to mandatory processing, preventing their spoilage. Basically, the fruit is sprayed with a substance containing paraffin, which blocks the access of oxygen to the product, thus preserving it. Without such treatment, many fruits, including plums, peaches and grapes, will not stay on the counter for more than seven days. All imported products are subject to mandatory spraying immediately after harvesting. After that, the fruits are treated with antibiotics, killing all pathogenic microflora, leading to damage to the crop. Sometimes the product is also subjected to antifungal treatment, which protects the fruits from the possible appearance of mold. Some fruits are subjected to repeated spraying. The first time this occurs immediately after the collection, and the second - after delivery to the retail network. For example, to accelerate the ripening of bananas, they are treated with a mixture of ethylene and nitrogen. Fumigated with this composition fruits in a few hours from the green turn into ripe yellow fruit. Some imported berries are delivered to us in a sealed package, filled with a special gas, which prevents them from spoiling.

How to use imported fruits?

Of course, completely get rid of harmful chemicals, which are rich in spring fruits, Almost impossible. But following a few simple recommendations, you can save yourself and your loved ones from the possible consequences. Each purchased fruit or vegetable should be thoroughly cleaned, because it is in the skin that the bulk of chemicals accumulate. Fruits that can not be cleaned are recommended to be thoroughly rinsed in hot water with the addition of soap or baking soda. Imported cabbage or potatoes after cleansing it is desirable to soak for half an hour in warm water. This will help to save vegetables from pesticides and insecticides contained in them. Also in careful washing, citrus fruits are needed, the skin of which is often rubbed with various food colors.

How to clear spring greens from nitrates?

To prevent the development and reproduction of bacteria in spring salads, they are recommended to sprinkle with lemon juice. It is better not to put the half-eaten salad in the refrigerator, and immediately send it to the trash can. Of course, this is not too economical, but it is safe for health. Total savings often lead to a general poisoning of the salad from fresh spring vegetables standing in the refrigerator. A more favorable attitude is deserved by citrus fruits, which even in spring months retain enough vitamins. But tangerines and oranges are better to immediately process into juice.

How to distinguish between nitrate vegetables and ordinary vegetables?

To avoid possible poisoning after the use of spring fruits, you need to learn to distinguish between healthy and nitrate products in appearance. So, when choosing cucumbers, you need to pay special attention to their peel. It should not be too thick. Pimples on the skin of a citric acid are easily rubbed off by fingers. A dark green vegetable with elastic coarse spines probably contains nitrates. When choosing cabbage, it is recommended to carefully look at its leaves. At a safe vegetable they will be dense and not very thick at the base.

What can replace the fresh spring fruit?

A wonderful alternative to nitrate spring vegetables and fruits will be frozen berries. Such fruits preserve practical all useful substances and do not lose them during storage. They should be eaten directly after defrosting. No less useful substitute may be dried fruits. Especially nutritious and valuable are the dried apricots and dried apricots. They can be eaten not only in spring, but also for a whole year.

Some people are sure that the reserves of canned compotes and juices contain all the same vitamins and nutrients as in fresh fruits. But in fact, this is not entirely true. In the composition of canned drinks, practically no vitamins are retained, so they become an ordinary means for quenching thirst.

How to recognize the tricks of sellers?

If the buyer has any doubts about the quality and freshness of the offered goods, he has the right to request documentation confirming the conformity of the products to the established norms. As a rule, the bulk of the seller does not have such securities, so the consumer has to determine the freshness of vegetables and fruits only in their appearance. So, the sticky to the touch fruits were treated with diphenyl or paraffin. Before using them, it is recommended to thoroughly wash and peel off the skin. Too strong tomatoes with white streaks on the cut, most likely, were grown with the use of harmful chemicals. Green spots on the potato indicate that the tubers contain a toxic solidin, which can cause severe poisoning.