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The most healthful fruits and vegetables are those that have been grown organically - without the use of insecticides, herbicides, artificial fertilizers, or growth-stimulating chemicals. Organic produce can be found in select health food stores, as well as in some supermarkets and green-markets and through food co-ops.
When choosing your produce, look for fruits and vegetables that are at the peak of ripeness. These contain more vitamins and enzymes than do foods that are under-ripe or overripe, or that have been stored for any length of time. Remember that the longer a food is kept in storage, the more nutrients it loses.
Once you get your organic produce home, running water and a vegetable brush are probably all that will be needed to get it ready for the table. If the produce is not organic, however, you will want to wash it more thoroughly to rid it of any chemical residues. Use a soft vegetable brush to scrub the foods, and then let them soak in water for 10 minutes. You can also clean produce with non-toxic rinsing preparations, which are available in reputable health food stores. If the products are waxed, peel them, as wax cannot be washed away, but remove as thin a layer of peel as possible.
Most fruits and vegetables should be eaten in their entirety, as all of the parts, including the skin, contain valuable nutrients. When eating citrus fruits, remove the rinds, but eat the white part inside the skin for its vitamin C and bioflavonoid content.
Although most people usually cook their vegetables before eating, both fruits and vegetables should be eaten raw as much as possible. All enzymes and most vitamins are extremely sensitive to heat, and are usually destroyed in the cooking process.
If fresh produce is unavailable, use frozen foods instead. Do not use canned vegetables or boxed vegetable dishes, as they usually contain significant amounts of salt and other unhealthy additives. If raw produce does not agree with you, steam your vegetables lightly in a steamer, cooking pan, or wok just until slightly tender.
HELPFUL RELATED MOONDRAGON NUTRITION BASICS LINKS
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Amino Acids Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Antioxidants Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Enzymes Information
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Herbs Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Minerals Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Mineral Introduction
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Dietary Supplements Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Dietary Supplements Introduction
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Specialty Supplements
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Vitamins Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Vitamins Introduction
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Guidelines For Selecting & Preparing Foods
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Avoid Foods That Contain Additives & Artificial Ingredients
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Is Aspartame A Safe Sugar Substitute
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Increase Your Consumption of Raw Produce
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Avoid Overcooking Your Foods
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Use Proper Cooking Utensils
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Limit Your Use of Salt
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Aspartame
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Foods That Destroy
MoonDragon's Nutrition Basics: Foods That Heal
MoonDragon's Nutrition Information: Food Additives Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Information: Food Safety Links
MoonDragon's Health & Wellness: Nutrition Basics Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Information Index
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Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 2nd Edition
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 4th Edition
Prescription for Herbal Healing: The A-To-Z Reference To Common Disorders
-- by Phyllis A. Balch
The Complete Guide to Natural Healing
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