In recent years, raw veganism has become increasingly popular. There is truth in the belief that less processed food is better. However, you need some cooked foods, such as meats and fish, because cooking them kills off bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Here’s the thing, though. Other than that, cooking is better, especially for certain vegetables, since certain vegetables are more nutritious cooked than raw. I’d like to go over those ones right now.
Asparagus
Each living organism has cells, and vegetables are no exception. The cell walls of asparagus, in particular, trap those essential nutrients. However, once you cook the asparagus, those cell walls break down, releasing the nutrients you can absorb easier in the body. The vitamins A, B9, C, and E found in asparagus can be absorbed more easily if cooked.
Carrots
The fiber in raw carrots makes them healthy for you. There are, however, additional benefits to cooking carrots. Cooked carrots contain beta-carotene, a carotenoid that the body converts into vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that improves vision and bone growth and supports immune function. As well as cooking carrots with the skin, you will want to do so to increase their antioxidant power. Do not fry carrots, as this will reduce their beta-carotene content.
Mushrooms
You can eat mushrooms raw, but they are much better for you if you cook them because they contain ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant. You need that antioxidant to protect your cells against oxidation. Ergothioneine can only be released by cooking mushrooms. Eating your mushrooms raw won’t benefit from ergothioneine, but you won’t hurt yourself.
Spinach
Magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium are just a few of the nutrients found in spinach. You won’t be able to absorb them as well if you eat spinach raw. Cell walls trap those nutrients, just like asparagus. These essential nutrients can easily be absorbed when spinach is cooked. Additionally, it makes calcium easier to absorb by releasing bound calcium.
Cruciferous Vegetables
The cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. In addition, they contain glucosinolates, which are sulfur-containing phytochemicals converted into many compounds that have cancer-fighting properties when cooked. Steamed vegetables have the same amount of vitamin C as raw vegetables. Unless you have thyroid conditions, add cruciferous vegetables to your diet unless you have thyroid conditions.
Green Beans
Eating green beans raw is not so good, but that is up to whoever is eating them. Despite this, cooked green beans are healthier because they contain a high level of antioxidants. Hence, you should bake them or microwave them or steam them to produce a lot of antioxidants, which are excellent for your health. They can lose their potency if fried, boiled, or pressure cooked.
Tomatoes
The tomato is technically a fruit, but it tastes great when combined with vegetables, and cooking it makes it even healthier. Cooking tomatoes increases the antioxidant lycopene, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The vitamin C content of tomatoes can be reduced by cooking, but lycopene increases dramatically.
Cooked vegetables are healthier for you, so enjoy them! For dinner, try out a recipe that involves cooking vegetables. There are plenty of cooked vegetable recipes online that you can enjoy. You can try them with various meat dishes too. And when you go out for dinner, you can request cooked vegetables on the side. Many menus feature cooked carrots, broccoli, and other vegetables as a side dish. That is a lot better than going for fries or rice. But now that you know of the benefits that cooked vegetables can bring you, you will want to include them in your diet as much as possible.
