Fresh fruits and vegetables must be included in the daily diet – any nutritionist will confirm this. Another thing is that seasonal fruits are not available all year round in all regions. People are trying to look for an alternative by choosing canned foods – but they almost do not have the useful substances of fresh fruits. Frozen fruits and vegetables also cannot always be a full-fledged replacement for fresh ones, it all depends on the conditions of freezing and storage. A good, but not universal, option is fermented foods, such as kimchi, which is considered a storehouse of vitamins. And another good way out of the situation is dehydrated foods.
Dehydrogenation allows you to significantly increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by removing moisture from them. The process takes place in special devices, where water is removed from the fruits for 12-20 hours at a temperature not exceeding 50 degrees. The low processing temperature allows you to save most of the nutrients, this processing method is safe for fiber, fatty acids, minerals and most of the vitamin list.
However, when using dehydrated foods, one should also be aware of their potential dangers. So, Harper’s Bazaar notes that during dehydration, the product loses only moisture, the rest remains, that is, the calorie content of the fetus is preserved with a loss of mass and volume. Accordingly, eating 100 grams of fresh apples and 100 grams of dried ones is not the same thing. Or another example: eating 100 grams of dehydrated mango, a person receives nutrients from one and a half kilograms of fresh fruit – more than 1000 kcal. Therefore, such fruits should not be carried away and it is necessary to carefully monitor portions and calories.
The second danger that can lie in wait when using dehydrated foods is extra ingredients. When buying this product in a store, you should carefully read the composition, since when processing fruits, sugar, salt, preservatives and oils can be added to them.
Also, with the regular use of dehydrated foods, you should remember the need to increase the amount of fluid consumed. Up to 35% of the daily water requirement a person receives from food, therefore, when dehydrated foods are included in the diet, it is necessary to make up for the lack of water.
See also: “Named dried fruit that increases” good “cholesterol”