My boyfriend insists that we have to rinse off all fruit before eating it – even watermelon, kiwi and cantaloupe. I say fruit that I cut to eat, like melons, doesn’t need to be rinsed first, and it’s OK to just wipe off an apple or grape before popping it

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is a great choice that promotes a healthy diet. As such, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest you should fill half your plate with colorful fruits and vegetables at each meal.

But, because fruits and vegetables can sometimes harbor harmful bacteria, it is important that you rinse all produce under running water before preparing or eating it.

That includes fresh produce that was purchased from a grocery store, a farmers market or even grown at home.

And, yes, even some fruits and vegetables that have skin need to be rinsed under running water before preparing or eating them, even if you do not plan to eat the skin.

For example, cantaloupe skin has nooks and crannies that can house dirt particles. You should give cantaloupes a good rinse and scrub them with a clean brush before you cut through them with a knife. That is because peeling or cutting unwashed produce can transfer dirt or other contaminates from the surface of the produce to the portion of the fruit or vegetable you plan to eat.

In fact, firm produce such as melons, apples and cucumbers should be scrubbed with a clean produce brush before peeling or cutting into them. And they should then be dried off with a clean paper towel or cloth to further reduce harmful bacteria that may be present on the skin, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Sprouts are among the vegetables that cause a high number of outbreaks. They have to be thoroughly washed before consuming. Vegetables like broccoli, lettuce and leafy kale should be rinsed under cold water just before you intend to eat them.

However, don’t wash berries before putting them in the fridge because that will increase moisture and accelerate growth of spoilage bacteria and molds.

It is important to note that most fresh produce is eaten uncooked and there is no way to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present. This is where proper food safety handling comes into play.

To lessen your chance for contracting foodborne illness, it is important that you not only wash fresh produce before preparing or eating it, but you should also wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after preparation, FDA says.

So even though it may be quick and easy to just shine that apple on your shirt or wipe off those grapes and cherries with a quick swipe of your hands, don’t do it. Take the extra step to avoid the potential for foodborne illness.

Understanding food safety is an important step to avoiding foodborne illness. Some 48 million people get foodborne illnesses, leading to 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention.

Several groups of microorganisms can colonize or contaminate fruits and vegetables at any point in the food supply chain, according to food safety experts. Pathogenic bacteria such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and viruses such as norovirus are commonly associated with consumption of fresh produce.

While washing produce is important, washing will not get rid of all bacteria or viruses. And washing with soap, detergent or commercial produce washes is no more effective than water. In fact, those products aren’t recommended at all, FDA says.

More than 300 million people travel on long-distance flights each year placing them at risk for developing blood clots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is a real and dangerous risk for travelers trapped in an airplane with limited space to move. However, a local cardiologist said the risk for blood clots shouldn’t just be limited to air travel.

“This condition is often referred to as ‘economy class syndrome’ because of its association with air travel, but reality is that it can happen when someone is traveling more than four hours in a plane, car, train or bus,” said Sandeep Gupta, MD, FACC, a cardiologist with Middletown Cardiology Associates. “Blood clots can happen to a person who has the right combination of risk factors regardless of their mode of transportation.”

The body’s blood has a builtin mechanism to both create and resolve clots, but certain factors and conditions can affect that rhythm and cause a person’s blood to become stagnant, said Dr. Gupta, who practices with Premier Physician Network.

“A blood clot can form if any condition causes the blood to stagnate,” he said. “People who develop blood clots are first and foremost predisposed to developing them. There are many different factors that can place a person at a higher risk, some of which are unknown such as genetic reasons such as missing enzymes.”

There are plenty of factors that are known and can help a person understand if they need to take special precautions to prevent blood clots when traveling. Adults over the age of 65, those with an inherited blood clotting disorder, obesity, individuals who are unable to move around and pregnancy place a person at high risk. Also, high on the list are those who take hormone replacement therapy and birth control medication.

Anyone with these risk factors should talk with their health care provider before traveling to discuss what steps would be good for them to take to avoid a blood clot. In some cases, individuals may need to take blood-thinner medication before traveling, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA).

The alliance created a “Passport to Safety” to help individuals enjoy travel without the worry of developing blood clots. Several simple steps can help a person reduce their risk:

Know the right moves.

The best defense against clot formation is to keep the legs moving. Make it a regular routine throughout the hours of travel to stretch your legs in two different ways. One, raise your heels with your toes on the floor. Two, raise your toes with your heels on the floor. Also, make an effort to stand up and walk around the airplane. Consider setting an alarm to alert you to do it every 30 minutes.

Consider compression.

Compression hose or socks are readily available thanks to newer products on the market for athletes. Wearing compression socks can play a big role in keeping the blood flowing throughout the legs and will cut down on swelling that many travelers experience.

Say no

Consume water.

to coffee and alcohol, which can play a big role in dehydration. Instead, choose to drink plenty of water throughout your travel.

Hit the brakes.

Those who are traveling long-distance in a car should make regular stops to get out and stretch their legs. It’s tempting to forge ahead when you’re eager to reach your destination, but it’s better to be safe and healthy in the end.

Be watchful.

Avoid taking sleeping pills that will allow you to sleep for hours at a time. Long naps may make long travel go faster, but it cuts down on the time your body is up and moving.

For more information on blood clots and travel or to find a Premier Physician Network physician near you, go online to www.premierhealthspecialists.org/heart.