The Flaw in the "Wash Your Veggies" Advice: How Systemic Pesticides Impact Chronic Disease

"Just wash your veggies!"

It's the knee-jerk advice we all hear, usually right after someone mentions the annual "Dirty Dozen" list. The underlying promise is simple: rinse off the supposedly highly-contaminated produce, and you're safe. We’ve been told this is enough, and many people diligently do it, thinking a scrub under the tap is the barrier between us and agricultural chemicals.

I’m here to tell you, with absolute clarity, that this advice is not just incomplete—it is dangerously misleading for everyone, and it is catastrophic for anyone dealing with a complex chronic condition like lupus or other autoimmune diseases.

You CANNOT wash away systemic pesticides. Period.

As someone who has navigated natural remission from cancer and is now focused on the deep work of autoimmune healing, this particular piece of conventional “wisdom” makes my blood boil! It’s a superficial answer to a deep, systemic problem, and I know exactly why.

I spent time working at both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—the very agencies where these agricultural chemicals are examined and approved. That experience gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how deeply integrated these chemicals are into our food system. This isn't theoretical; it's a matter of fact rooted in regulatory science.

The Key Difference: Systemic vs. Surface

The reason you can’t wash them off is found in one crucial word: systemic.

A systemic pesticide is not just sprayed on the surface of a plant; it is absorbed into the plant. The chemical circulates through the plant’s entire internal structure. For instance, Glyphosate—the active ingredient in Roundup and one of the most common agricultural chemicals used globally—is systemic. It’s in the roots, the stems, the leaves, and the fruit itself.

If you swallow an aspirin, you don't just feel the effects in your throat. The medicine goes into your bloodstream, affecting your whole system. Systemic pesticides work the same way inside the plant. Once absorbed, that chemical becomes an integral part of the produce you are about to eat.

So, when you meticulously wash those conventional bell peppers or spinach leaves, you might rinse off a speck of dirt or some residual surface spray. But the systemic chemicals—the ones designed to be part of the plant's defense system—remain. They are bound within the very fiber of the food you’re consuming!

Why This Is a Critical Issue for Autoimmunity

Consuming these residues is a public health issue for everyone. But for those of us with a compromised or overactive immune system, like those of us with lupus, introducing a constant stream of low-dose, bioactive chemicals is an unacceptable burden. Our bodies are already inflamed and working overtime. We cannot ask them to heal and pursue remission while simultaneously demanding they filter out these systemic aggressors.

Pesticides are designed to disrupt biological functions. When we consume them, they don't just vanish; they:

• Act as Endocrine Disruptors: They mimic or block hormones, which throws our sensitive hormonal balance out of sync—a known trigger for autoimmune activity.
• Damage the Gut Ecosystem: Many of these chemicals are potent antimicrobials. They can wipe out the beneficial bacteria in our gut, leading to the dysbiosis and "leaky gut" that are major drivers of chronic disease.
• Overwhelm Detox Pathways: Our liver and kidneys struggle to keep up with the daily load of environmental toxins. Adding these systemic residues to the queue often pushes our detoxification pathways past their breaking point, leaving the toxins to recirculate and fuel inflammation.

If you are committed to eating "clean" and are frustrated by slow progress, this is one probable reason for your slow progress. We cannot achieve true healing while these silent, systemic triggers are constantly undermining our efforts. Pesticides in our foods are one of many culprits that slow down our path to healing and recovery. 

My Stance is Unwavering: Choose Smarter

This is why, for anyone serious about resetting their immune system and finding true wellness, prioritizing organic, biodynamically grown, or local, known-source produce. This isn't a recommendation—it's a fundamental necessity. It’s not about perfection, but about drastically reducing your body’s daily chemical burden.

Don't fall for the "just wash it" fallacy put forth by incompetent advice. It's time to become the ultimate, informed investigator of your own health. True protection from environmental toxins starts long before your food ever reaches your kitchen.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you are tired of sorting through all the online information and ready to learn the systematic steps needed to address the true root causes of your autoimmune disease, I invite you to join my free 50-minute webinar: The Roadmap to Lupus Remission. In this session, you'll learn the crucial areas you must address beyond diet to begin resetting your immune system and moving toward sustained wellness.