Is it true that when you cook vegetables you cook the nutrients out of them?

Question

I have heard when you boil them till there soft the vitamins and minerals are cooked away.... true or not??? if it is true how long can most vegetables be cooked and still maintain the nutrients

Answer 1

Only if you overcook them...Green veggies such as green beans and broccoili etc, should only be boile for a few mins, and should still be slightly crisp. Cook all of your veggies this way as a rule of thumb and you will recieve all of their benifits. Also, try steaming, by far the best way to do veggies, keeping the same rule of thumb, keeping them slightly crisp. They retain their flavor when still crisp also.

Answer 2

Some cooked forms of tomatoes -- even ketchup have more lycopene, an antioxidant that may prevent heart disease and prostate cancer. It depends on how long you boil them and the type of vegetable. Nutrient depletion can occur with the water soluble nutrients if you boil for too long. 'Blancheur' is best, for eg with asparagus, you can blanch for 1 -2 minutes and then soak quickly in ice water to preserve the crunch and colour. You can also use the water to boil the vegetables as a stock for making soup or porridge. Enjoy! {:-)

Answer 3

It is true and it isn't true. It has to do with how long you cook them.

If you don't cook them at all, the cell walls won't weaken enough for your teeth and stomach to get through them to get the nutrients.

If you cook them just right, you'll weaken them and can chew them up and get all the good healthyness.

If you cook them too much you'll destroy the cell walls and the nutrients will spill out and be destroyed by the heat of cooking.

Answer 4

I've heard many people said that too. I don't cook vege well, 2 or 3 mins cooked in boiled water for most vegetables.

Answer 5

Possibly, if you cook them to mush. But some nutrients in vegetables are actually more available for the body to absorb if the vegetable is cooked (not to mush, but crisp-tender)

Answer 6

Yes, especially when you boil them in water. always steam in as little water as possible and leave them crisp tender to preserve some of the nutrients and vitamins

Answer 7

in my chemistry class, I learned that cooking your food DOES indeed remove all of the nutrients, or atleast most of it.

Answer 8

Of course. Don't you notice the corpses of all the people who've died of deficiency diseases who've eaten cooked food lying all over the streets?

Answer 9

yes it is true you need to steam your veg not boil them.your veg will get done faster when you steam them and they will have all the nutrietion in them.

Answer 10

a little