5 Cooking Tricks That Make Vegetables More Nutritious

By , Woman's Day Staff
Yes, eating a lot of vegetables is crucial for good health. But the way you prepare them can also ward off disease. Keep clicking for five easy ideas for getting the most out of your favorite veggies.

1. Stir-fry carrots or steam broccoli.
Chopping and then heating them releases carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that may help fight cancer. 


2. Add a little oil as you sauté or cook leafy greens.
The good fats from the oil help your body absorb the nutrients that are released as the vegetable is heated. 

3. After you mince garlic, let it sit out for 15 minutes.
Research shows that exposing garlic to air once you chop it up promotes an enzyme reaction that releases cancer-fighting compounds.

4. Cut larger pieces or cook the vegetable whole.
Cooking bigger sections of vegetables like sweet potatoes or summer squash exposes less of the food’s surface to air and heat, which can destroy vitamins and nutrients.
 
Click here for more food preparation tips from Woman's Day.

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