One way we can spend less AND eat healthier is by storing our fresh food properly, so we can avoid throwing out over-ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.

Because of this, I would like to share some tips I’ve learned over the years for storing fresh food in the best possible way in order to preserve its freshness.

Many times we go to the store and see all of the beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables in season and on sale, and we over buy.
So, first try to only buy what you truly feel you are going to eat in the next few days.

Don’t try to buy produce to last for a week. It may not last that long. Some root vegetables can last a month if stored properly, but fresher, more fragile fruits and vegetables will only last about 2-5 days.

In regards to freshness and how long organic fruits and vegetables might last, I need to address a new chemical coating (Apeel) that some organic growers are now using on their fresh organic produce.

Apeel is classified as a food additive. This means it goes through a different approval process than a pesticide.

In addition to this, under the FDA’s present system, each of these companies can determine whether the substance they are using is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) and are allowed to police themselves, without even notifying the FDA.

The company (that makes Apeel) gets to decide if it’s safe. It’s completely self-regulating!

A report by the National Resources Defense Council found major gaps in the system that allow unsafe additives to reach consumers. (1)

So, what is Apeel? Apeel is a film that goes on produce to make it last longer, and it’s approved by the USDA Organics Department. It’s made by a Bill & Melinda Gates partnered company called Apeel Sciences, and they claim it’s safe to consume.

Some things you may wish to know:

1. Apeel is a coating to place on fresh fruits and vegetables that is supposedly tasteless, odorless, and invisible, and its reason for being used is to reduce food spoilage. You cannot wash it off.

2. The reason they are using it, is to extend the shelf life of produce, and to make the produce look fresh even if it’s been in a warehouse for weeks.

3. There are various versions of Apeel that can be applied before or after harvest. It’s on foods in over 65 countries, including organics in the U.S.

Here is a quote from an article: “Is Apeel Appealing?” by the Weston A. Price Foundation.

“Apeel already has approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). “

There are two apeel products. The first product, Invisipeel, can be applied by growers to crops in the field. The second one, Edipeel , growers can apply after harvest. “The two products will be marketed as preserving agents (keeping the outward appearance of freshness of the fruit or vegetable), as pesticides (creating a physical barrier for pests) or even as fungicides (such as preventing the anthracnose fungus from shriveling up avocados).”

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Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC and Brud Hodgkins. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video  for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

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Storing it properly is important. We go to the store and buy delicious-looking food. But then we get home and end up storing it improperly, or we get busy and forget about it. Then we find our refrigerator having the aroma of over-ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables. One way we can spend less AND eat healthier is by storing our fresh food properly.

Many times we go to the store and see all of the beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables in season and on sale, and we overbuy. So, first, try to only buy what you truly feel you are going to eat in the next few days. Don’t try to buy produce to last for a week. It may not last that long. Some root vegetables can last a month if stored properly, but fresher, more fragile fruits and vegetables will only last about 2-5 days.

If you do buy too much, you can think about making a pie, or doing some canning, or freezing some of your more fragile fruits and vegetables before they spoil. Always store your food in its complete wholeness.

According to food scientist Barry Swanson at Washington State University, if you pull fruits and vegetables apart, you have broken the cells, and microorganisms will immediately begin to grow. Avoid breaking the skin and leave the stem intact.

He also says you should never place fruits and vegetables in airtight bags. That actually will speed up the decay. Be mindful that mold will proliferate quickly in airtight bags and can spoil the whole group of fruits or vegetables. Toss out any spoiled produce immediately, or put it into your compost bin.

Next, make sure you are storing the various types of fruits and vegetables with the right partners. Some give off high levels of ethylene gas (a ripening agent), which makes them and everything around them ripens or decay quickly. You want to keep these types of foods separate from each other.

Put things like kale and spinach in the same bin, and peaches and apples in another. If you put fruit with greens, it will cause the greens to rot or turn yellow in a few days. Greens are very sensitive to the ethylene gas. I have a little product called an E.G.G. (Ethylene Gas Guardian, which is shaped like an egg), and it absorbs the ethylene. I just put it in my bin with the fruits and/or greens.

Of course, if you need something to ripen faster, then you can use this knowledge to your advantage. You can put the one you need to ripen with a fruit that gives off the highest level of ethylene gas.

I also use produce bags by Bio-Fresh and Ever-Fresh. They will absorb ethylene gas and help your produce stay fresher longer. Keep root vegetables (including all kinds of potatoes) in a cool, dark, dry place. They can last up to a month if kept properly. Never store potatoes in the refrigerator, because they will develop a much higher sugar content.

Here is a list of fruits and vegetables, showing the best way to store them. These are high ethylene producers, and you can refrigerate them: apples, apricots, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherimoyas, cranberries, figs, green onions, guavas, grapes, honeydew, kiwifruit, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, passion fruit, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, prunes, quince, and tomatoes.

The banana is a high releaser and should be stored in a cool dark place outside of the refrigerator.

The following fruits and vegetables are very sensitive to ethylene gas: asparagus, bananas (unripe), blackberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, garlic, green beans, kale, leafy greens, leeks, lettuce, okra, onions, parsley, peas, peppers, raspberries, spinach, squash, strawberries, watercress, and watermelon. Keep them separate from the high ethylene gas-producing foods.

Mushrooms should be stored in a dry paper bag or breathable container and put in a cool place. I’ve been told to gently brush them off under water to clean them before preparing them for consumption.

Try to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that have been ripened on the vine or on the tree. Tree or vine-ripened foods contain salvestrols, which are compounds that have natural anti-cancer properties. (1)

In fact, the word salvestrol comes from the Latin word “save.” So, growing your own food or buying from a local farmer is one way of getting food that is vine or tree-ripened. Food that is picked green and then ripened on the way to market does not contain these salvestrols.

Organic food is best because it is more nutrient-dense. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides can destroy nutrients in the soil, like sulfur, chromium, minerals, and probiotics, which are vital for our health.

“The Organic Center study found that organic foods were more nutritionally dense in 61% of the cases” and they “found conventional foods to contain higher nitrates, which are widely considered a potential health hazard.” (2)

Farmers’ markets are one of the oldest forms of direct marketing by small farmers. The fresh, organic produce is local, in season, less expensive, fresher, and it’s fun to meet your local farmers. Find a local farmer’s market near you with Local Harvest. Click here for Local Harvest link.

With all the fresh fruits and vegetables enticing us from their bins at the farmer’s market or grocery store, now we can make those delicious meals with our properly stored produce!

Bon Appétit!

Source:

1. Johnson, Dr. Ben. Qtd. in Bollinger, Ty. (2014). The quest for the cures… continues. (Film transcript). TTAC Publishing.
2. Steury, Tim. (Winter, 2009). “Is organic more nutritious?” Washington State Magazine.

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Nancy Addison is a certified health counselor, nutritionist, chef, as well as a radio show host, who teaches people about living a healthier, happier life through nutrition and lifestyle. She has appeared on NBC, Fox, CBS, and in documentaries ( “Eating You Alive”).

You can reach her on her website, Organic Healthy Life, or find easy, healthy recipes in Nancy’s books (which are half cookbook).

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The information from Nancy Addison and Organic Healthy Lifestyle LLC is not offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease or disorder nor have any statements herein been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We strongly encourage you to discuss topics of concern with your health care provider.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this email, article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professionals, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. I make no claims about healing anything.

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The author and publisher are not liable for the misuse of this material. This article, website, podcasts, and books are strictly for informational and educational purposes. Nancy Alisa Gibbons Addison offers information and opinions, not a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or healthcare provider before taking any home remedies or supplements, or following any treatment suggested by Nancy Addison or by anyone listed in the books, articles, or other information contained here. Only your healthcare provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

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I’m sharing this easy Italian recipes from my book, “Diabetes And Your Diet, Winner for Best Health book of the year (2017-2018), in the International Book Awards.

It’s always a great time to have a cool, refreshing meal made with fresh, organic garden veggies!

Gazpacho

Ingredients

3 large tomatoes (diced)
1 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper (seeded & diced)
1⁄2 cucumber (diced)
1⁄4 cup raw cold-pressed flax or hemp oil
2 cloves garlic (minced)
3 sundried tomatoes (soaked in pure water until soft)
2 drops of plain liquid stevia (optional)
Pinch of black pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of turmeric
Unrefined sea salt to taste

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until creamy.
2. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Environmentally minded? You may like these stats:

If everyone went vegetarian for just one day, the U.S. would save:

â—100 billion gallons of water, enough to supply all the homes in New England for almost 4 months;

â—1.5 billion pounds of crops otherwise fed to livestock, enough to feed the state of New Mexico for more than a year;

â—70 million gallons of gas — enough to fuel all the cars of Canada and Mexico combined with plenty to spare;

â—3 million acres of land, an area more than twice the size of Delaware;

â—33 tons of antibiotics.

If everyone went vegetarian just for one day, the U.S. would prevent:

â- Greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.2 million tons of CO2, as much as produced by all of France;

â— 3 million tons of soil erosion and $70 million in resulting economic damages;

â—4.5 million tons of animal excrement;

â— Almost 7 tons of ammonia emissions, a major air pollutant.

According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads. See how easy it is to make an impact?

Bon Appétit!

To view my healthy cookbooks, go to: http://www.organichealthylifestyle.com/

Leave a comment and join the conversation!

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So, where to start?

Eating locally grown, fresh organic foods has many benefits for health and weight loss. When we get healthier, the weight usually adjusts itself.

Local, fresh, organic food that has been ripened on the tree or vine is packed with salvestrols that have natural cancer-fighting properties and more nutrients. For example, Vitamin C and sulfur are two critical nutrients that are very fragile and that often get damaged in storage, packing, and transport

Our bodies are meant to have seasonal foods. Fruits with high water content are perfectly suited for the summertime, whereas a warm, savory root veggie soup is more comforting in cold winter months.

As the growing season blossoms, foods in season are: arugula, asparagus, blueberries, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, greens, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, peaches, radishes, and strawberries.
Find a local farmer’s market and enjoy a weekend outing to stock up on fresh food for the week and meet a local farmer.

You can look up Farmer’s Markets near you by using the Local Harvest website: http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/” and the National Resources Defense Council’s Local Food. The NRDC website: https://www.nrdc.org/issues/local-food-systems“>https://www.nrdc.org/issues/local-food-systems“>https://www.nrdc.org/issues/local-food-systems to see what markets are near you.

If you want to see what is in season in your area each month, check out the Field to Plate’s Seasonal Lookup Guide ­ http://www.fieldtoplate.com/guide.“

By eating more fresh, whole, organic food in its natural form, you can restore your health, vitality, and a healthy weight.

This can be as simple as having a diet that is 80 percent whole, raw unprocessed food. It can have life-changing results.

Whole, raw foods will feed the body on a deep, cellular level without stressing it as much as cooked food does. This food really feeds the cells in the body.

People who consume fresh, uncooked foods find they don’t need to eat as much and they feel more satisfied. I think it is because their body is truly getting what it needs.

Cooked and processed foods are dead. They don’t supply any live enzymes. When foods are devoid of living enzymes, it means that the body has to work much harder. and it also has to supply more of its own stored enzymes to digest the foods.

I look at people who live on processed foods. Many have terrible weight problems, diabetes, or cancer. I feel they are quite literally “starving” to death. Their body is not getting the nutrients it needs to function properly. They always feel hungry, and they always have strong cravings for more food. Their body is crying out for nourishment. 

Consuming more raw fruits and vegetables, which are naturally low in calories and rich in nutrients, can make you feel really satisfied.

I just took a group down to Nicaragua for a Rejuvenation Retreat that Charlotte Ammerman and I hold a few times a year. It includes healthy cooking classes almost every day.

A couple of the people told me they had worried about being hungry on the seven-day trip. One person even brought food, just in case! 

But they were all amazed at how delicious the food was, and how full and satisfied they felt on the trip. Some participants lost more than seven pounds without even trying.They simply ate fresh, locally grown plant-based foods, prepared in the healthiest way.

If you are wondering what a vegetarian meal would look like, my internatonal, multiple award-winng book, second edition of How to Be a Healthy Vegetarian has more than 115 easy recipes.

One big reason that fresh, whole plant­-based foods are so beneficial to health is because they are high in fiber. Fiber adds bulk to your diet and fills you up more effectively than refined, processed foods.

Eating more fiber rich foods can help control your appetite so you take in fewer calories. Studies show that a diet that is high in fiber, made up of fresh fruits and veggies, can also help the body reverse diabetes (including type one!).(1)

So, buy a rainbow of colorful, fresh, organic fruits and veggies for your meals this month. Give your body the nutrients it needs to create the health and vitality you desire.

Our body is our temple. Let’s honor that temple and give it the quality food it truly deserves. In this way, you will have radiant health from the inside out!

Sources:
[1] Anderson, James W. (Dec., 1990). “Dietary Fiber and Human Health.” HortScience,

25(12):1488­1495. http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/25/12/1488.full.pdf

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