Frozen food IS better than fresh: Higher levels of vitamins and antioxidants in frozen fruit and vegetables say scientists

Fresh is not always best: A new study has found that frozen fruit and vegetables often contain more nutrients

Frozen fruit and vegetables can be healthier, with higher levels of vitamins and cancer fighting antioxidants, than leafy ‘fresh’ produce.

Two independent studies found more beneficial nutrients in everything from frozen broccoli florets and carrots to blueberries.

In two out of three cases frozen fruit and vegetables scored better on antioxidant-type compounds – including Vitamin C, polyphenols, anthocyanins, lutein and beta-carotene.

Consumption of these anti-oxidant compounds is considered beneficial in preventing cancer and supporting the working of the body, brain, skin and eyes.

Produce bought from the supermarket greengrocer section is full of colour and crunch, while many stores even use fine mist sprays to give a ‘just picked’ look.

This supermarket theatre convincers shoppers to pay a premium for food they believe is good for their family’s health as well as being tasty.

However, the reality is that these vegetables and fruit may well have been held in storage for a month, while they then sit in the fridge at home for days before being eaten.

Over the days, they gradually deteriorate, slowing losing some of the nutrients associated with leafy greens and fruit.

By contrast, vegetables and fruit sold in the frozen cabinets are chilled soon after harvest and so retain higher levels of vitamins and antioxidants until they are eaten.

Two teams, one from Leatherhead Food Research and another from the University of Chester, carried out 40 tests to measure  nutrient levels in produce which had been sitting in a fridge for three days versus the frozen equivalent.

The findings demonstrate that eating newly picked produce is the healthiest option, however frozen can be almost as good and is often better that items sold as ‘fresh’.

Leatherhead’s Dr Rachel Burch, said: ‘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.’

Source: Daily Mail (http://goo.gl/d7i9RZ)