RAW or COOKED?

There is no denying that eating a variety of fruits vegetables is good for your health. The question is whether eating vegetables cooked or raw is more healthy? I personally think it is important to incorporate a large amount of raw fruits and vegetables and fruits into your diet on a regular basis. There are so many nutrients and enzymes in raw foods that are beneficial to our health and the cooking process can often denature or eliminate these nutrients. However, cooking has its benefits as well. For example, cooking can break down nutrients in some foods so they are more easily absorbed by the body. In addition, cooking can break down some of the fiber in more cruciferous vegetables, which makes them easier to consume and digest.  

Here is a list of some vegetables that are better eaten cooked than raw:

• Asparagus
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and brussel sprouts

In general, I would encourage you to try and consume more raw foods in your diet, but you do not need to eat 100% raw. If you prefer to cook your vegetables and this keeps you eating healthy then this is okay too as long as your cooking process does not involve adding extra salt or oil. Whatever method you decide, cooked or raw, just focus on eating more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.