Do you think that fresh fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients than frozen or canned ones? Think again.
If you do not have the opportunity to grow your produce to consume while it is still fresh, you can freeze or preserve fruits and vegetables. They can be as useful as fresh, and in some cases, even more, a study shows.
Scientists explain that the idea is widespread that if fruits and vegetables are not fresh, they cannot provide the necessary nutrients. Experts urge people to eat more fruits and vegetables, whether fresh, frozen or canned.
Lycopene and Vitamin C
Christine Bruch of the University of Davis, California explains that cases have been identified in which canned and < strong> frozen vegetables surpass fresh ones in terms of nutrients. This is the case with tomatoes and lycopene .
Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes and thought to be that protects against cardiovascular disease and even some cancers. It turns out that fresh tomatoes contain less carotenoid than canned ones.
According to another study, whose data are included in that of the Davis researchers, tomato paste contains more than six times more lycopene, compared to fresh tomatoes.
A study from the late 1990s suggests that fresh vegetables such as green beans and spinach lose about 75% of their vitamin content. C when stored in the refrigerator for one week.
According to scientists, these vegetables would be more useful when frozen or canned than their fresh form, stored for weeks in the refrigerator.
Experts explain that some nutrients such as vitamin C are actually very sensitive to exposure to air.