Rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber necessary for our body, vegetables, both raw and cooked, are considered one of the most useful components of nutrition. However, in no way denying the importance of vegetables in the daily diet, it should be borne in mind that even they can be harmful to health, if you eat them excessively or recklessly approach their choice.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – April 10, 2021 – Lifestyle
Vegetables as a threat to the figure
According to a “healthy eating plate” developed by Harvard experts, a variety of vegetables and fruits should make up half of each serving. But are all vegetables only good? In 2017, Harvard scientists published the results of a large-scale study, which provided a list of vegetable crops that contribute to the formation of overweight and not recommended for people who are prone to it. So, for example, from the vegetables which are a part of “a plate of healthy food”, potatoes because of their negative influence on the level of sugar in the blood and the raised content of starch are excluded.
Even more damage to the figure, scientists say, can cause corn, which is the leader among vegetables in terms of calories: 110 calories per 100 grams. During the study, participants who regularly ate corn gained an average of two kilograms per year, because with the same diet, but without corn, the weight of the participants, in general, did not change. The third place in the list of the most caloric vegetables after corn and potatoes was taken by green peas.
It is important to note that researchers advise only to limit the amount of these vegetables in the diet, but to completely abandon their use is not recommended: they contain a lot of useful nutrients and trace elements.
Nitrates and pesticides
In addition to calories and starch, vegetables, in violation of the technology of fertilization and cultivation, can carry an even greater danger in the form of increased concentrations of dangerous toxic substances: nitrates and pesticides. Nitrates are compounds of nitric acid that are present in any living organism, but in case of excessive accumulation have a toxic effect. Pesticides are also pesticides used in agriculture to control pests, weeds, and plant diseases. The increased content of nitrates and pesticides results in an undermined immune system, an increased risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and the number of deaths from pesticide poisoning, according to a 2017 UN report, is 200,000 a year. And for women, according to the same study, pesticides are also dangerous because
Since the bulk of nitrates enters our body when consuming vegetables, when choosing them, keep in mind that the maximum accumulation of nitrates occurs during ripening. For this reason, it is better to refrain from buying unripe zucchini, eggplant, potatoes – they may contain more nitrates than vegetables that have reached normal harvest maturity. The first place in terms of nitrate content is occupied by green vegetables: rhubarb, spinach, sorrel, dill, lettuce, parsley. The second place is occupied by beets. The third place is shared by carrots and cabbage, which concentrates harmful substances in the cob and thick petioles of leaves. As for pesticides, according to the Working Group on the Environment (EWG), the list of vegetables most susceptible to contamination includes celery, spinach, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Other side effects
In addition to the above, vegetables can hide other dangers. For example, experts do not recommend eating green potatoes and overripe eggplant because of the toxic substance solanine, which accumulates in them and can cause nausea and diarrhea. It is worth considering the storage of beans: if it lies too long, it often gets a mold, which can not be determined by the taste or smell of the product. Their restrictions on the use of vegetables are introduced in the case of specific diseases. For example, in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, doctors recommend caution with corn and radish.
Mind above all
Scientists recommend that in order to get the necessary benefits from vegetables and minimize the possible harm, it is better to buy organically pure products and give preference to seasonal crops. Adherence to simple rules of selection and storage of vegetables, as well as their wise use – the key to your health.
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Source: Ukrgate
