INCLUDE RAW VEGETABLES IN YOUR DIET

Photo: Some artsy playful veggies ????  ? off to the unknown creative artists

WHY SHOULD WE EAT RAW VEGETABLES? 

Consuming unprocessed fresh wholesome vegetables boosts our immune system and helps us acquire all the nutrients our body needs to fight diseases.  Vegetables contain protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. How much of it remains when subject to heat depends on the temperature, the type of the vegetable, and the means of cooking  (cooked, boiled, steamed, grilled,  fried).  Equally when we cook vegetables we destroy the digestive enzymes they contain.
Read How Cooking Affects the Nutrient Content of Foods https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cooking-nutrient-content

If raw is not palatable to you then consider these tips from the Healthine article on

“HOW TO REDUCE NUTRIENTS LOSS WHILE COOKING:
1. Use as little water as possible when poaching or boiling.
2. Consume the liquid left in the pan after cooking vegetables.
3. Don’t peel vegetables until after cooking them. Better yet, don’t peel at all to maximize their fiber and nutrient density.
4. Cook vegetables in smaller amounts of water to reduce the loss of vitamin C and B.
5. Try to eat any cooked vegetables within a day or two, as their vitamin C content may continue to decline when the cooked food is exposed to air.
6. Cut food after — rather than before — cooking, if possible. When food is cooked whole, less of it is exposed to heat and water.
7. Cook vegetables for only a few minutes whenever possible.
8. Don’t use baking soda when cooking vegetables. Although it helps maintain color, vitamin C will be lost in the alkaline environment produced by baking soda.”

Eating vegetables and fruits, is free organic medication!