The New Year will soon fill our apartments and houses with the aromas of our favorite citrus fruits.
Tangerines, oranges – where would we be without them during these winter holidays?
And they are not limited to just a delicious taste, they are also good for the body: they contain many vitamins and valuable substances.
But do they need to be washed before consumption?
Transportation
Many people believe that this procedure is not necessary, since no one eats the peel.
Doctors have a different opinion. They strongly recommend always washing tangerines and oranges before eating.
Experts remind us that although citrus fruits are indeed very healthy, the way they are sometimes transported and stored is alarming.
For example, in order to ensure the longest possible shelf life and attractive appearance, citrus fruits are often treated with special chemical preservatives before transportation.
Even though they prevent the spread of fungi and mold, they can still negatively affect human health.
Harmful substances
One of these preservatives is imazalil, which is an oily liquid that is poorly soluble in water.
It poses a threat to the endocrine system, and in large doses can be a real carcinogen.
Used to prevent rotting and keep citrus fruits fresh, thiabendazole can cause irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as allergic reactions.
Orthophenylphenol, which is used in addition to processing fruits to disinfect containers or packaging materials, can also lead to these same reactions.
The named substances easily get on hands, dishes, and penetrate the body.
Eliminate the danger
To get rid of them, it is not enough to wash citrus fruits with ordinary water; it is recommended to use a cleaning solution.
This can be a mixture of vinegar and water (1 to 3) or a mixture of warm water (1 l) and soda (tablespoon).
Citrus fruits should be processed in this way for 10 minutes.
Then you need to rinse them thoroughly under running water and dry them carefully with a towel or napkin.
