Food & Health

Fresh fruits and vegetables are often promoted as the foundation of a healthy lifestyle, but what if they are hiding unseen hazards? Today, most of our fresh yields are grown using pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and surface wax that is used to protect crops, but it can remain for a long time after harvest. Before the next bite, it is worth asking: what is happening inside our body other than vitamins and minerals?  What are pesticides and chemical fertilizers? Why are they so common in India?  Pesticides are chemical substances designed to kill insects attacking crops, fruits and vegetables. These include herbicides (for unwanted plants), pesticides (for pests or insects), and fungi (for fungi and Moulds). On the other hand, artificial or chemical fertilizers are added to the soil (mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium - NPK) to enhance yields and promote rapid plant growth. India's growing population and the need for food security have inspired farmers to rely heavily on these chemicals. As technology and mechanizations spread, use has touched the sky in Punjab and Haryana, the consumption of fertilizer has crossed 250 kg/hectare (far above a safe global average). Across the country, about 207 different pesticides have been found on foods, with 62% of vegetables and 82% of fruits with some levels of chemical contamination. Accurate agriculture, drone spraying, and better access only increased their application. This rapid adoption has supported food production - but at a hidden cost for human and environmental health. Health effects of pesticides and chemicals  When we eat contaminated fruits and vegetables, we are inviting more than nutrition. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers can have acute and chronic health consequences - sometimes in ways that appear only years later. Let’s see how these pesticides and chemicals can cause short-term and long-term effects on human health. Short–Term Effects: Nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness - severe symptoms of acute pesticide toxicity. Skin, throat, and eye irritation - a frequent response among those exposed or fresh yield through food.  Respiratory crisis or cramps - especially among children and sensitive people towards chemicals. Long-Term Effects:Carcinogenic effects: Many studies have associated pesticide residues with cancer growth, especially among children and people with regular exposure. Neurological Effects: Chronic exposure to these pesticides and chemicals is increasingly connected to problems with brain development and function, like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological disorders.  Effect on Reproduction and Fertility: These chemicals are found to be associated with changes in fetal growth, birth defects, and craniate death. The taste is not just a risk; uncleaned or poorly washed fruits and vegetables can also foster bacteria, viruses and wax that can make us sick before these long-term diseases develop. The more we consume, especially in homes with children, the greater the risk. Introducing “The Nuva”: Bringing Safer, Cleaner Fresh Produce to Your Door So, what is the solution? "The Nuva" was launched to deal with these hidden health risks using ozone washing power. Our approach is simple: each fruit and vegetable is treated with ozone - a natural, highly effective disinfectant that breaks pesticides, chemicals and microbes on the surface without leaving any harmful residues. The ozone is faster and more intensive than bleach, kills bacteria, viruses, moulds, and removes up to 99% of the surface pesticides. Using this clean technology, The Nuva delivers not only fresh, but also safer to consume fruits and vegetables. Consumers can enjoy extended taste, long shelf life, and real peace of mind that goes into their body, supporting a cleaner, and a healthier environment. Ready for safe, clean, and truly nutritious fruits and vegetables? Try the ozone-washed fruits and vegetables of The Nuva, because your health is more valuable than just a good taste.   Dt. Simran KushwahaExecutive Nutritionist – The Nuva References:1.    Pesticide residues in food: World Health Organization Fact Sheet (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pesticide-residues-in-food) 2.    Pesticides Residues In, Vegetables and Fruits: A review. IJCSRR (https://ijcsrr.org/single-view/?id=22172&pid=21969) 3.    Impact of Pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits and hazards. PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2984095/) 4.    A Review into the Effectiveness of Ozone Technology for Improving the Safety and Preserving the Quality of Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables. PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8065486/#:~:text=Several%20studies%20have%20shown%20that,an%20antimicrobial%20agent%20in%20liquids.)5.    Ozone For Washing Fruits & Vegetables – OZ-AIR (https://www.oz-air.com/washing-fruits-and-vegetables.html)