You’d
be forgiven if you thought that raw is always healthier than cooked.
For many fruits and vegetables, that’s certainly the case; but it’s not
always the case.
Cooking some vegetables actually breaks down their
tough cellular structure and makes it easier for the body to absorb
nutrients. Of course, by cooking, we mean cooking them the right way.
The best thing you can do is rid yourself of the idea that raw is always
healthier than cooked.
Spinach: Cooking spinach boosts
your body’s ability to absorb all of the fantastic nutrients this leafy
green is loaded with, like calcium, iron, magnesium, lutein and
antioxidants like beta-carotene. The amount of calcium, for example,
actually triples when you cook spinach.
Mushrooms: Cooking mushrooms
isn’t just the healthier option, it’s also the safer option. There are
several types of mushrooms that are only safe to eat cooked, and even
the ones more commonly served raw, like button mushrooms, are hard on
your digestion.
Mushrooms have very tough cellular structures, so
cooking really does wonders on drawing out their nutrients, making them
more digestible, and killing any toxins they may contain.
Tomatoes: Cooking tomatoes boosts
the amount of lycopene that is released into the body. Raw tomatoes,
on the other hand, only release about four per cent of this antioxidant
that has been linked to lower rates of heart disease and cancer.
Carrots: Carrots will help
improve your vision, thanks to high levels of beta-carotene, an
antioxidant that your body converts into vitamin A. Raw carrots — and
the beta-carotene they contain — are somewhat difficult for our bodies
to digest. But cooking breaks down the tough veggie and, in turn, boosts
their nutritional value
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