Frozen Foods, Are They Healthy for You?

Frozen foods are the typical choice during the winter months, when fresh produce prices rise or they simply become unavailable. But are they a healthy option for you? Turns out they are. Let's find out why.

Canned fruits and vegetables lose a lot of important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients during processing because of the long exposure to the high temperature applied to for the purpose of killing off potentially harmful bacteria.

Canned tomatoes are an exception. Lycopene, known for its beneficial role in prevention of prostate cancer, is better absorbed from cooked (i.e. canned) tomatoes as compared to fresh tomatoes.

As a general rule of thumb, frozen foods are equal to, or in many cases more healthful than some of the fresh produce sold in the supermarket.

Fruits and vegetables chosen for freezing tend to be processed when they are most nutrient-packed. This allows them to ripen during transportation. This in turn gives them less time to develop a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and natural antioxidants. Contrary, the majority of the fresh produce is picked before its peak ripeness.

Some nutrients are better absorbed by the body from frozen produce vs. fresh produce. When fruits and vegetables are frozen, ice crystals often puncture the plant cell walls. This causes a less crunchy texture but also allows for nutrients within the plant cells to be more easily released for absorption once consumed.

Steaming and/or microwaving your frozen or fresh produce will also help to prevent loss of water-soluble vitamins and obtain the maximum nutritional benefits.

Most Americans consume less than half of the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. Check out www.choosemyplate.gov to find out how many servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended for your age and gender category. Any form of fruit or vegetable is better than none at all!