| When you boil vegetables, they leach their color | | | | vegetables rather than from supplements. It is |
| together with their minerals, vitamins and potential | | | | suggested that you should utilize the water that is |
| nutritional value. The darker and more vibrant the | | | | used to cook vegetables in a sauce, or add it to a |
| vegetable the more obvious this is; it is always | | | | soup, or just to drink it so that the lost nutrient |
| preferable to steam fresh beetroots because | | | | content is drunk in the water. |
| their color is obvious in the water after boiling. | | | | Cooking the carrots whole change more. The |
| Today nutritionists are observing that uncut | | | | phytochemicals, apparently less of the natural |
| vegetables such as carrots are more nutritious | | | | sugars found in carrots are lost when they are |
| than boiled carrot slices, because the nutritional | | | | cooked whole and they actually taste even better |
| value is locked into the whole vegetable. | | | | as well. Eighty percent of people tested in Ireland |
| A study by the British Newcastle University | | | | in a blind tasting of the boiled then cut and the cut |
| Schools of Agriculture, Food and rural | | | | then boiled carrots preferred the taste of those |
| development found that boiling whole carrots | | | | that were cooked whole. |
| increased the amount of carrots anti cancer | | | | The initial research into falcarinol in carrots found |
| properties in the form of a polyacetylene | | | | that rats fed on isolated falcarinol and raw carrots |
| compound called falcarinol by 25 per cent. This | | | | developed less full scale tumors than the control |
| research and others carried out at Limerick | | | | group who had no carrots in their diet. In fact |
| University in Ireland have confirmed that | | | | they developed a third less tumors than the |
| polyacetylene may have more anti cancer | | | | control group. |
| properties than beta carotene. Falcarinol is a | | | | Roasted Carrot Soup |
| phytochemical that protects carrots from | | | | Ingredients |
| different types of fungal diseases. It is a non | | | | 1 kg Carrots, whole and unpeeled |
| nutrients element that have powerful effects in | | | | 1 Onion, halved, quartered |
| deterring major illnesses. | | | | 200g Sweet Potato, |
| It has previously been assumed that the heat | | | | 1 head of Garlic, whole |
| used in cooking vegetables degrades the nutrients, | | | | 5 Cups fresh Chicken Stock |
| and the fact that raw vegetables are healthier | | | | 1 inch of fresh ginger |
| than cooked ones, but the carrot example means | | | | 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground Nutmeg |
| that the nutrients in carrots are enriched in | | | | 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil |
| cooking. It is understood that these compounds | | | | Sea Salt to taste |
| are not water soluble and they do not leach | | | | Freshly Ground Black Pepper |
| away. Whilst carrots lose vitamins and minerals in | | | | Optional garnish |
| the cooking process, they have increased levels | | | | Pumpkin seeds. |
| of phytochemicals. The heat kills the cells in the | | | | Method |
| carrot during cooking so they lose the ability to | | | | Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. |
| retain the water inside them and this increases | | | | Arrange the carrots, onions, sweet potato, ginger |
| the concentration of falcarinol in the carrot. When | | | | and garlic in a baking tray. Drizzle olive oil over |
| the cell walls break down the vitamin C and | | | | them and season. Roast the vegetables for about |
| sugars are lost because they are water soluble. | | | | 45 minutes to an hour. Squeeze the garlic out of |
| This research has been supported by researchers | | | | the shells and peel the carrots if you want them |
| from Cornell University in America; they | | | | peeled, but they can be used as they are, |
| researched tomatoes and found the same thing. | | | | because all the nutrients are just under the skin. |
| The phytochemical lycopene increases after | | | | Place in a large saucepan and add the chicken |
| cooking though the minerals and vitamins have | | | | stock, nutmeg and simmer for about then |
| decreased. These facts alone means that it is | | | | minutes. Either puree or roughly mash the carrots. |
| even more important to eat fresh fruit and | | | | |