eat my words (with steamed broccoli)

[Guest guest]

A few years back we had a debate about microwaving herbs which then

drifted into microwaving foods. while most of the existing research

seemed to suggest that microwaving has less effect on vitamins than

other forms of cooking, the debate was enough to get me to stop

microwaving my own food. I still do not think there is much evidence

that microwaving causes cancer directly, but now it appears the effects

may be indirect. Microwaving apparently destroys many antioxidants

that would protect against cancer. Don't get up on your high horse too

quick, though. Unless you grow your own food or eat food harvested the

same day, your " fresh " broccoli has lost most of its antioxidants

before you eat it (whether you cook it or not). Boiling is not quite

as bad as nuking, but steaming causes the least further losses (almost

none). Frozen foods that are frozen right after harvest without

blanching have the most nutrients. so if you can't get it from your

garden, steam frozen veggies for the best nutrition. Ironic that if

one prefers to eat fresh veggies, you probably won't be getting much

cancer protection unless you take supplements. another example that

sometimes putting the stuff in pill form is the only way to eat a truly

" natural " diet without all of us returning to the farm.

 

reported in j argric food chem, vol. 51, may 7, 2003, pp. 3029-34

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

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