Healthy Eating - Is food healthier if it is raw?

Healthy Eating - Is food healthier if it is raw?

One question that many people wonder about as they go through their diet plan is whether they should eat raw foods as often as possible. While you may not go so far as to adopt the raw food diet approach, which can be very restrictive in a sense and difficult for many to maintain; You may ask yourself whether cooking certain foods is wiser.

What is the verdict?

The benefits of raw food.First, let's look at the benefits of eating raw foods. The main advantage is that they have not been modified in any way. More and more people are realizing the importance of eating foods in their natural state, and raw food goes one step further. Even naturally occurring foods like carrots and broccoli are altered somewhat when cooked. And this changes their nutritional profile.

Some foods tend to leach nutrients when heated, especially when cooked. Usually this is the case with vegetables, so it is often recommended to eat vegetables raw. Otherwise, it's good to have other healthy natural foods like...

• Yogurt,

• fresh fruits,

• nuts,

• seeds and

• oils

often because they are nutrient-dense foods.

A note on cooking.However, remember that some foods benefit from cooking. Take sweet potatoes for example. You can't eat these raw, so you'll need to cook them to reap their nutritional benefits. The same applies to lean protein. You won't be eating raw chicken soon - or at least you definitely shouldn't!

Having cooked foods in your diet allows you to absorb more nutrients when the foods cannot be eaten raw. And yet, some foods are better when cooked and oil is added: these include foods that contain fat-soluble vitamins. Kale, for example, can be a little more nutritious if you cook it lightly and add a small amount of olive oil. The oil helps absorb the fat-soluble vitamins – vitamins A, D, E, and K. If you eat kale raw, you won't get such a concentrated dose.

Your approach.So your approach should be balanced – eat some raw foods and some cooked foods. Use variety in your diet. Most of the time, this is the better way to approach your nutrition plan.

Many people find that eating raw foods also helps reduce digestive stress. On days when you feel bloated and gassy, ​​this may be even more reason to opt for raw food intake more often.

Keep these points in mind and include some raw foods in your diet this week. You can gain a lot if you do this.

Inspired by Beverleigh H Piepers