It seems the scientists are taking over the kitchen as we strive
to better understand the foods we eat. Food chemistry is now a major
area of research and new learning is determining both what we should eat
and how it should be prepared.
Considerable effort is being directed at how our bodies react to foods, and especially how nutrients pass through the membranes of our stomach. As a result, many long held beliefs about healthy eating are being revised so that we can maximize the benefits which come from good nutrition.
The following tips for good nutrition are somewhat at odds with what we have always thought, but with the weight of scientific evidence we can be confident that these nutrition facts will give us the best value for the calories and vitamins we consume.
Good nutrition tip 1: Don't cook green vegetables in salted water.
For a long time, it was believed boiling green vegetables in salted water helped with color retention, stopped sogginess and improved flavor. However, experiments have shown all of this to be false. For example, vegetable color is determined by the pH of the water and only a minuscule amount of salt in cooking water is retained on the vegetable's surface making it undetectable to most people.
Good nutrition tip 2: Cooked fruit and vegetables can be better for you than raw.
Brightly colored fruits such as tomatoes are high in anti-oxidants (which are very good for us) but often the nutrients are only released when cooked. In the case of peanuts, some toxins are present when the nut is raw but the full nutritional value is released when cooked.
Carrots have long been considered the perfect snack in their raw form, but studies show that our bodies are unable to break down a carrot's cellular structure and hence the nutrients cannot be released. It is far better to slightly cook them in order to give the body some help with digestion otherwise the raw carrot will pass through our bodies without giving up any of its elements of good nutrition.
Good nutrition tip 3: No need to sear meat at high temperature.
The old adage that searing meat is needed to preserve the juices has been proven a fallacy. In fact, seared meat loses more of its original weight than that cooked at lower temperature. It is recommended that meat be at room temperature before cooking and rested on a plate mid way through cooking to allow the heat to diffuse.
Good nutrition tip 4: Frozen vegetables are as good for you as fresh.
Many of us feel guilty when serving frozen vegetables but there is no need as long as they are cooked quickly and in as little water as possible. A mix of fresh and frozen vegetables is often the best solution with peas in particular lending themselves extremely well to being frozen.
Generally, people are trying to add more healthy food to their diet. Good nutrition facts are becoming more widely known as scientific research better explains the relationship between food and our bodies. Becoming better informed about the food we eat and its preparation is an important step to a healthy lifestyle.
Considerable effort is being directed at how our bodies react to foods, and especially how nutrients pass through the membranes of our stomach. As a result, many long held beliefs about healthy eating are being revised so that we can maximize the benefits which come from good nutrition.
The following tips for good nutrition are somewhat at odds with what we have always thought, but with the weight of scientific evidence we can be confident that these nutrition facts will give us the best value for the calories and vitamins we consume.
Good nutrition tip 1: Don't cook green vegetables in salted water.
For a long time, it was believed boiling green vegetables in salted water helped with color retention, stopped sogginess and improved flavor. However, experiments have shown all of this to be false. For example, vegetable color is determined by the pH of the water and only a minuscule amount of salt in cooking water is retained on the vegetable's surface making it undetectable to most people.
Good nutrition tip 2: Cooked fruit and vegetables can be better for you than raw.
Brightly colored fruits such as tomatoes are high in anti-oxidants (which are very good for us) but often the nutrients are only released when cooked. In the case of peanuts, some toxins are present when the nut is raw but the full nutritional value is released when cooked.
Carrots have long been considered the perfect snack in their raw form, but studies show that our bodies are unable to break down a carrot's cellular structure and hence the nutrients cannot be released. It is far better to slightly cook them in order to give the body some help with digestion otherwise the raw carrot will pass through our bodies without giving up any of its elements of good nutrition.
Good nutrition tip 3: No need to sear meat at high temperature.
The old adage that searing meat is needed to preserve the juices has been proven a fallacy. In fact, seared meat loses more of its original weight than that cooked at lower temperature. It is recommended that meat be at room temperature before cooking and rested on a plate mid way through cooking to allow the heat to diffuse.
Good nutrition tip 4: Frozen vegetables are as good for you as fresh.
Many of us feel guilty when serving frozen vegetables but there is no need as long as they are cooked quickly and in as little water as possible. A mix of fresh and frozen vegetables is often the best solution with peas in particular lending themselves extremely well to being frozen.
Generally, people are trying to add more healthy food to their diet. Good nutrition facts are becoming more widely known as scientific research better explains the relationship between food and our bodies. Becoming better informed about the food we eat and its preparation is an important step to a healthy lifestyle.
P G King writes about health and fitness matters, mindful of the need to have fun whilst enjoying proper foods and exercise.
More information can be found at his blog at http://all-health-and-fitness.blogspot.com/ where you can download a free e-book containing extensive nutrition and exercise information.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=P_G_King
More information can be found at his blog at http://all-health-and-fitness.blogspot.com/ where you can download a free e-book containing extensive nutrition and exercise information.