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A beloved fruit cherished by Britons across the nation is actually "one of the worst" you can consume due to a particular concern, according to a medical expert. Dr David Céspedes, identified by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo as a public health specialist, recently used social media to voice his worries about a popular fruit that tennis enthusiasts traditionally savour during Wimbledon. He was, naturally, referring to strawberries, though he wasn't implying they lack nutritional value. Read more NHS shares one thing people with long Covid should avoid doing Rather, he was highlighting the chemicals employed to shield them from pests, stating these substances build up in strawberries more than "any other fruit". Strawberries are indeed rich in antioxidants and vitamins, as noted by Healthline, reports the Mirror . The publication adds that these compounds, alongside plant elements present in the fruit, may even offer advantages for blood sugar control and cardiovascular health. Dr Céspedes, nevertheless, emphasises that "most people" are committing an error regarding strawberry preparation, one that simply isn't "enough" to tackle the pesticides covering the fruit. He explained: "Unfortunately, strawberries are one of the worst fruits you can eat. They accumulate more pesticides than any other fruit, and the worst thing is that most people think that simply rinsing them with water is enough. "The most common mistake is to put them under the tap for five seconds and keep them moist in the fridge. This does not remove the residue and, on top of that, they spoil much sooner." David proceeded to reveal his technique for washing strawberries, asserting that individuals ought to immerse the fruit for 10 minutes in "water with salt or vinegar at 3%", making sure they're thoroughly rinsed. He continued by saying you should subsequently dry the fruit and store the strawberries in a properly-ventilated container, proposing that this approach will help them endure and render them "really clean". Beyond the aforementioned advantages, strawberries are equally low in calories and feature vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B9, and potassium. Additionally, it has been proposed that they might assist in cancer prevention. Research has suggested that berries could help ward off numerous cancers through their ability to combat both inflammation and oxidative stress. Healthline also pointed out that strawberries have been shown to "inhibit" tumour development. It observed that this relates to animals with mouth cancer, alongside human liver cancer cells. According to the non-profit organisation Pesticide Action Network UK, studies in 2024 revealed that many everyday foods contain PFAS pesticides, with strawberries being the "worst offenders". It stated that, in 2022, 95 per cent of the 120 samples tested by the Government contained these pesticides, which are also recognised by the rather sinister nickname of "forever chemicals". This implies that PFASs can persist not only in the environment, but also "accumulate" within our tissue, blood and bones. According to the list of the most affected produce, strawberries topped the chart, followed by grapes, cherries, spinach, tomatoes, and peaches/nectarines.
