In this article, we look at the nutrition and the many and varied health benefits of these and other fruits you can find in the supermarket.

Jellyfish belong to an animal group called invertebrates, because they do not have backbones. Fish are vertebrates, because they have backbones. Jellyfish are related to corals and anemones. They belong to the phylum Cnidaria (pronounced “nide-AIR-ee-ah”.)

Strawberries continue to lead the “Dirty Dozen” list of fruits and veggies that contain the highest levels of pesticides, followed by spinach, a trio of greens, nectarines, and apples, according to the EWG’s 2021 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

1. Lemons. Share on Pinterest Lemons contain vitamin C and other antioxidants that benefit health.
2. Strawberries.
3. Oranges.
4. Limes.
5. Grapefruit.
6. Blackberries.
7. Apples.
8. Pomegranate.

Avocados and sweet corn were the cleanest. Fewer than 2 percent of samples showed any detectable pesticides. The first seven Clean Fifteen crops tested positive for three or fewer pesticides on a single sample. Almost 70 percent of Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had no pesticide residues.

No washing method is 100% effective for removing all pesticide residues. The specialist explained that unlike dishes, fruit and vegetables have pores. Dish soap or bleach can get trapped or absorbed by the pores and become difficult to rinse off the fruit once they have been applied.

EWG’s list of most contaminated fruits and vegetables

• Strawberries.
• Spinach.
• Kale, collard and mustard greens.
• Nectarines.
• Apples.
• Grapes.
• Cherries.
• Peaches.

USDA tests found that strawberries were the fresh produce item most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues, even after they are picked, rinsed in the field and washed before eating. If you want to avoid pesticides and soil injected with poisonous gases, EWG advises always buying organically grown berries.

Avocado. Avocados are rich in healthy monounsaturated fat and a good source of fiber, folate and vitamins C and K (9). Summary Avocados contain the least pesticides of any common produce item. Due in part to their thick peel, fewer than 1% of avocados tested had any pesticide residue.

Hop and bell peppers had the most pesticides detected (115 in total) and 21 more than the crops with the second-highest amount (kale, collard and mustard greens).

Strawberries

Consumer Reports’ experts recommend rinsing, rubbing, or scrubbing fruits and vegetables at home to help remove pesticide residue. Now, a new study from researchers at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, suggests another method that may also be effective: soaking them in a solution of baking soda and water.

Rinse produce BEFORE you peel it, so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from the knife onto the fruit or vegetable. Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There’s no need to use soap or a produce wash. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers.