Fresh fruit? Frozen fruit? Which is better for the body?

We all love to eat fruit, right? We know that it is very good for the body. But when you go to the supermarket, you may also wonder whether to choose the fresh fruit that is beautifully shiny, or the frozen fruit that is cut and packaged for easy use. Which of these two is really good for the body? Is the nutritional value different? Today, we will clear up all the questions you have in mind about this.

First, let's see how valuable fruits are to our health.

If you add fruits and vegetables to your daily diet, the benefits to your body are greater than you might think. Simply put, these things happen:

• Helps control your blood pressure.
• Reduces the risk of developing serious diseases like heart disease and stroke.
• Helps reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
• Helps maintain good eyesight and digestive system health.
• Helps control blood sugar levels.
• Helps control body weight or lose weight.

Fresh fruit? Frozen fruit? - Here's the truth

Many people think that fresh fruit is always best, but the truth is a little more complicated than that.

Think about it, a fruit is at its peak nutritional value right from the moment it is picked from the tree. Frozen fruit is made by picking the fruit at its ripest, most nutritious stage and then flash-freezing it. This process preserves almost all of the fruit's vitamins and minerals.

On the other hand, think about the fresh fruit we buy at the store. It is probably picked from the farm, transported, stored, and only then reaches the store shelves. This journey can take several days, sometimes weeks. During this time, some of the sensitive vitamins in the fruit (e.g. vitamin C) begin to gradually decrease due to exposure to light and air.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both types?

Although there is not much difference in terms of nutrition, there are different advantages of both types in terms of ease of use, price, and other factors. Let's look at this in a table.

Are there any things we should pay attention to when eating fruit?

Although fruit is a healthy food, there are a few things we need to be careful about.

The first thing is germs.If not cleaned properly, the surface of fruits can harbor harmful bacteria like Salmonella , E. coli , and Listeria . These can cause food poisoning, including stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The second issue is sugar . Although fruits contain natural sugar, if you have a medical condition like Diabetes Mellitus, it is important to ask your doctor how much of very sweet fruits (like mangoes, bananas, grapes) you should eat.

How can you avoid diseases caused by fruits?

It's very simple. If you follow a few simple habits, you can eliminate almost all of these risks.

• Wash thoroughly: As soon as you bring fruit home, wash it thoroughly under running water before using it. Rub it well with your hands to remove any dirt and germs on the surface.
• No soap: Never use soap, disinfectant, or bleach to wash fruit. The chemicals in these can be absorbed into the skin. Just use running water.
• Selection: When buying fruit from the store, avoid buying bruised, cut, or damaged ones, as these areas can easily harbor germs.
• Keep it separate: Just like in the supermarket trolley, keep fruits separate from raw items like meat, fish, and eggs in the fridge at home.
• Cleanliness: Always keep your cutting board and knife clean. Avoid cutting fruit on a cutting board for meat or fish.
• Cut Fruit: If you cut fruit and have leftovers, immediately place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge.
• Dry: After peeling the fruit, dry it with a clean cloth or paper towel. Moisture can promote the growth of bacteria.

People who need to be especially careful

There are groups of people who are most at risk of food poisoning. They should be more careful about cleaning fruit.

• People over 65 years of age
• Young children under 5 years old
• Pregnant mothers
• People whose immune system is weakened due to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or other medications