We all know about the numerous health benefits of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, but did you know that by simply changing the way you prepare these foods in your kitchen, you can increase the health-boosting benefits you absorb from these superfoods even further? In fact, in some cases, you could quadruple the nutritional goodness they provide just by following these seven simple tips:
1. Pull apart your lettuce
It might sound unlikely, but tearing up your lettuce the day before you eat it can significantly boost the antioxidants in the leaves. The leaves produce extra antioxidants in response to the stress of being torn apart. So, next time you’re preparing your salad greens, remember to give them a good shred and let them rest overnight in your fridge.
2. Maximize garlic’s healing powers
Garlic is known for its numerous health benefits, and you can make the most of these by slicing up and mashing the cloves before letting them sit on the kitchen counter for a while before using them in your cooking. These processes set off chemical reactions in the garlic, producing important compounds that can help keep you healthy.
3. Choose deep yellow corn
When buying corn, look out for the deep yellow variety. Deep yellow corn has more than 30 times the antioxidant carotenoids of white corn, offering a much higher dose of these vital nutrients.
4. Cook your carrots whole
Eating cooked carrots, instead of raw, allow your body to absorb more nutrients. To maximize the carrots’ health benefits, cook them whole rather than slicing them. Cooking whole carrots preserves their falcarinol, a natural cancer-fighting chemical.
5. Look for deep red tomatoes
Not all tomatoes are created equal when it comes to antioxidant content. Deep red tomatoes offer a higher level of antioxidants than green, gold, or yellow ones. So, be sure to pick out the reddest tomatoes you can find for your next spaghetti sauce or salad.
6. Store broccoli in a perforated bag
When you store raw broccoli in the fridge, keep it in a plastic bag with tiny pinpricks. By doing so, you boost the vegetable’s antioxidant content, providing even more health benefits.
7. Microwave-thaw frozen berries
Gently thawing frozen berries in the microwave allows you to retain more of the fruits’ antioxidants compared to letting them defrost at room temperature or in the refrigerator. This not only brings out their juiciness but also ensures you’re getting the full array of health-boosting goodness from those berries.
And, finally, don’t forget to eat a wide variety of differently colored fruits and vegetables. Each of the various colors represents different natural chemicals that provide various health benefits. By eating a diverse selection of produce, you’ll obtain a broader range of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. So, don’t limit yourself to just a few of these superfoods – your body will thank you for it.
