14 DAY TRIAL // Frozen fruits and vegetables are often frowned upon by health enthusiasts who are dead set on consuming fresh produce alone. However, it turns out that, in some cases, frozen fruits and veggies might actually be healthier than the so-called fresh picked varieties.
Thus, two independent studies have found that, when compared to their fresh twin brothers and sisters, frozen broccoli florets, carrots and blueberries contain significantly more nutrients. More precisely, they pack more vitamins and antioxidants.
“We must disregard the mistaken opinion that 'fresh' food is always better for us than frozen food. These results demonstrate that frozen can be nutritionally comparable to 'fresh' produce,” Dr. Rachel Burch commented on these findings, as cited by Daily Mail.
Researchers believe that frozen fruits and vegetables can prove healthier than fresh produce due to the fact that they are chilled almost immediately after harvest.
Thus, there simply isn't enough time for them to undergo any major transformations and lose part of their nutrients content.
By comparison, the fruits and vegetables often sold in supermarkets and stores as fresh actually reach customers after having spent at least a couple of weeks in storage. During this time, odds are that their nutrients content has changed to a certain extent.
“Fast and highly organised methods of 'harvest-to-freeze' have evolved with the express purpose of minimising nutrient losses,” says Brian Young with the British Frozen Food Association.
“In contrast, 'fresh' food has been shown to spend up to a month in the chain of producers, wholesalers and retailers before consumers have access to store and prepare them.”
“During this time we know that product deterioration takes place - to the extent that they can have lower nutritional value than their frozen equivalent,” he further details.
By the looks of it, soft fruits were the ones most vulnerable to losing their antioxidants content when being refrigerated rather than frozen.