BENEFITS OF FROZEN FRUIT & VEGGIES
Optimizing nutrition is hard. Any “life hacks” that make it easier are enthusiastically welcomed! Check out this article from CNN.com that helps to reassure that you can still get good quality nutrients from frozen fruits and veggies.
“You are probably aware that you should try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can for good health. But what if your favorite fruits are not in season, or the veggies on your Sunday shopping list will be eaten much later in the week?
It might be time to favor frozen.
Going frozen means you can enjoy your favorite berries or peaches during wintertime. It also means less spoilage, allowing you to enjoy produce when it’s close to its nutritional best — that is, whenever you decide to consume it.
In fact, research has revealed that frozen fruits and vegetables can have just as many vitamins — and sometimes more — as compared to fresh.
Aside from preserving vitamins, freezing is the best way to preserve beneficial plant compounds that help protect against disease, explained Mary Ann Lila, director of the Plants for Human Health Institute at North Carolina State University.”
“From a commercial standpoint, you definitely have a more nutrient-dense product than something that has likely been picked, refrigerated, then put on a truck for up to three days, then stored in a warehouse … before arriving at a grocery store for a few days,” Lester said. Here, nutrient loss in fresh produce occurs as the result of exposure to oxygen during non-frozen transport and storage, which degrades nutrients.
“When you compare fresh string beans in a store versus frozen, frozen will almost always be higher in nutrient content, because they were picked and processed at the highest point of quality and then frozen to preserve them,” said Mario G. Ferruzzi, a professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University.”
If you are interested in making changes in your nutrition or just want to ensure you are achieving recommended goals, please call for an appointment with our registered dietitian nutritionist, Claire Allen. We also have a comprehensive weight management program to try to fully optimize your nutrition and wellness. Call 224.407.4400 or visit compgihealth.com to learn more!