How do we really clean our fruits and vegetables? Perhaps, we can by removing pesticides from it.

Pesticides are the only toxic substances allowed into our environment to kill living things. This includes substances that kill weeds, insects, fungus, rodents and others.

It can be used to control a variety of pests, such as insects, weeds, rats and mice, bacteria and mold, and more.

Another way pesticides can spread and cause potential harm is by volatilization. Volatilization occurs when a pesticide turns into a gas or vapor after it has been released, allowing it to travel through the air and spread to different pieces of land. This can be harmful for wildlife, such as frogs or pets.

Although pesticides help farmers control insects, weeds, fungi and other potentially harmful pests it can also be harmful to humans.

Ideally, we wouldn’t have to worry about chemicals in our vegetables and fruits. However, we are not living in an ideal world. Food-grade waxes and strong pesticide coats are present in the fruits and vegetables we buy daily. A simple rinsing by water alone wont get rid of the chemicals coated around our food.

Here’s a natural way of getting rid of nasty pesticides and wax coated in fruits and vegetables.

All we need is water and vinegar. Yes, white distilled vinegar.

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Put 1 cup of water in a descent bowl
2. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar and immerse fruits and vegetables that are coated with insecticides for 15-30 seconds. In some fruits that sprayed with thick coting of harmful pesticides, you can submerge it up to 20 minutes and then rinse with water.
3. You can now enjoy a wax free healthy snacks.

Notes: Getting the chemicals from fruits and vegetables may shorten the fruits and vegetables’ shelf life so might as well rinse it if you’re going to use or eat the product. 😉

Pesto is an Italian sauce traditionally made from garlic, basil, pine nuts, olive oil, salt and Parmesan cheese. But truth be told, the primary flavor in pesto is actually basil, which means that you don’t really need cheese. Plus, it’s a less expensive option than the pricey cheese. This Vegan Basil Pesto is so good, you will never know the difference because it tastes like the traditional one.

You only need five ingredients to make this delicious,

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Cups Fresh Basil  leaves
• 2 Cloves Garlic
• 1/2 cup Olive oil
• 1/4 cup Nuts (could be pine nuts, or wall nuts)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine the nuts, basil and garlic in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
2. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth.
3. Lastly, add salt and pepper to taste.

There you have it, healthy and easy. Enjoy.

Pesto is a delicious sauce often made from basil, olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts

Ingredients such as the olive oil and pine nuts are higher in calories, because they have a high fat content.
All of these ingredients have health benefits and can be included in a well-balanced, healthy diet. Ingredients such as the olive oil and pine nuts are higher in calories, because they have a high fat content. However, what makes this food considered “healthy” is that the fat is unsaturated.

These unsaturated fats help reduce heart disease, lower cholesterol levels and have other health benefits when they replace saturated fats in the diet. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature, unlike saturated fats that are solid at room temperature.

When consumed in moderation, unsaturated fat can contribute to decrease inflammation in your body. Lowering inflammation is good because inflammation is associated with a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many other conditions associated with aging.

Now, lets talk about the ingredients of pesto. First , Basil.
Basil plant looks a lot like peppermint,which by the way is related. it’s very fragrant leaves are used as seasoning herb for variety of food. This plant contains nutrients such as 98% of vitamin K, 12% manganese, 9% copper, 6% vitamin A, 5% vitamin C, 4% of calcium, folate and iron, and 3% of omega-3 fats and magnesium. Wow! That’s a lot of nutrients.

Second is Garlic, according to research garlic contains Allicin which has potent medicinal properties. 1 ounce (28 grams) serving of garlic cinatains manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium which by the way helps strengthen our immune system, and fiber which helps our tummy digest well.

Third Olive oil, when we think about oil the first thing that pops on our mind is cholesterol and fats, but this kind of oil contains healthy fats that can lowerthe risk of diabetes 2 and of heart diseases. It is also loaded of antioxidants and niutrients.

Last but not the least in our pesto ingredient are nuts, could be pine nuts or wall nuts whichever your heart desires for your pesto. Aside from being packed with protein, nuts have unsaturated fats, which again is good for our body, fiber, vatamin E and more.

So what are we waiting for? let’s go and make pesto. 🙂

Click here on how to make Pesto.

Zucchini is a member of the gourd family that is cylindrical in shape and that are in shining dark green in color, with a watery flesh and mild flavor. Though zucchini can grow to almost in huge proportions, the smaller vegetables are the most flavorful. It contains Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant, and has anti-inflammatory properties. They also have high water content (over 95%), so they make perfect food for people on diet. it also has useful amounts of folate, potassium, that is good for the heart, and vitamin A that is good for our eyesight. These said vitamins and minerals are necessary for a human body.

Here is one healthy and fun way to prepare zucchini.  😉

INGREDIENTS:
4 small zucchini, ends trimmed
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cherry or grape tomatoes, optional

DIRECTIONS:
1. Use a julienne peeler or mandoline to slice the zucchini into noodles. Set aside.

2. Combine the basil and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Pulse until blended. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Combine the zucchini noodles and pesto. Toss until zucchini noodles are well coated. Top with tomatoes, if using. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Note-if you want to cook the zucchini noodles, you can. Just add the zucchini pesto noodles to a skillet and sauté them up over medium heat. It only takes a few minutes.

Enjoy this delightful and healthy recipe.

Avocados are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants like pantothenic acid (B5) that can alleviate conditions like hair loss, allergies, asthma, stress and anxiety. Constipated? Avocados contain dietary fibers that can normalize bowel movements. It also has vitamin K that regulates normal blood clotting; copper that helps reduce cholesterol; folate which plays a role in DNA synthesis and repair; vitamin B6 that protects the immune system; potassium which enhances muscle strength, metabolism, water balance and electrolytic functions; vitamin E and vitamin C that protects our body from toxins.

But did you know that the way you use to peel an avocado might make a difference to your health?
Research shows that the there are more nutrients in the peel and the seed and the avocado pulp has actually much lower nutrients. So here’s a way on how to peel, cut and dice your avocado and get the necessary nutrients you need.

This method is what we call the “nick and peel”  method.

First you cut the avocado lengthwise, resulting to 2 long avocado halves that are still connected by the seed. Second you hold both halves and twist it in opposite directions until they separate.

Remove the seed and cut each of the halves lengthwise and peel it off just like peeling a banana. Lastly, you can then cut it into cubes and viola! you now have avocados that gives you the best possible nutrients.