Hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have no doubts about this subject.
Choose Frozen When You Can’T Get Fresh
Keep in mind that buying frozen is a good option and can be quite convenient in our time-crunched world. Frozen food can still boost your immune system. “Manufacturers freeze frozen fruits and veggies at ‘peak’ ripeness, which means they’ll pack a similar nutritional value as their fresh counterparts,” she says.
“Just choose plain frozen foods rather than those with added sugars or sodium.”.
Associated Data
Supplementary Materials Table 1.
Freshly Picked
Because your body cannot make vitamin C, it must come from the foods you eat every day.
Research shows vitamin C is essential for the growth and repair of tissue all over the body. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights free radicals in the body which may help prevent or delay certain cancers and heart disease and promote healthy aging. Vitamin C from foods also seems to reduce the risk of cartilage loss in those with osteoarthritis.
Though it may not keep you from catching a cold, there is some evidence that high doses of vitamin C may decrease the length of cold symptoms by as much as one to one-and-a-half days for some people. However, other studies did not result in the same findings, and the risk of side effects is greater with high doses of vitamin C supplements, so check with your doctor or registered dietitian nutritionist before taking. Many fruits and vegetables supply this vital vitamin.
To get the most nutrients, eat them as soon as possible after shopping and consider steaming or microwaving vegetables for short periods of time to limit nutrient loss. To get this benefit, combine vitamin C-rich foods with iron-rich plant foods in the same meal. For example, combine black beans and salsa or create a flavorful spinach salad with strawberries and mandarin orange.
2. Vitamin C
We’re all told from a young age that it’s important to drink our orange juice for some vitamin C. That’s because this nutrient acts as an antioxidant to help protect cells from damage, absorb iron from plant-based foods and support proper immune function, according to The NIH.