Fresh Fruit and Vegetables vs Canned Fruit and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables are an essential part of your diet. Everybody knows that they should be eating plenty of fruits and vegetables every day. However, many people want to know whether canned fruits have the same benefits as fresh.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables have very high levels of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Most of these fruits have a high quantity of vitamin C which boosts your immune system.

Fruits and vegetables also contain dietary fiber which is required to keep your bowels runningsmoothly. Studies have suggested that fiber will reduce your chances of suffering from digestive cancers.

Although there are other sources of vitamin C, vegetables and fruit have very high concentrations. A single medium potato will provide you with around 50% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C and a large amount of fiber. A medium sized orange contains more vitamin C than you actually need for the whole day.

As soon as fruit is picked it naturally starts to decay. Fresh fruits and vegetables will lose nutrients until they are eaten. Storing fresh fruit and vegetables is also very difficult as they will perish quickly.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best source of these vitamins and minerals. This is because they are completely natural and have the highest quantities of vitamins and minerals. Most people also enjoy the taste and texture of fresh fruit.

If you don't mind the taste of canned fruits then you could consider eating these. This will provide many of the same nutrients and minerals.

Canned Fruits and Vegetables

When fruits or vegetables are canned they do not lose any of their nutrients. This is because the decomposition process is halted until the can is opened again. This means that if they are packaged soon after picking then they can contain higher levels of nutrients than fresh fruit and vegetables brought from a grocery store. Ideally the fruit will be canned where it is picked.

Canned fruits and vegetables are very convenient because they are available throughout the year regardless of the season. Canned produce will last for many months or years without the need for refrigeration. They are a useful food to stock in your cupboard in case you can't go shopping for any reason.

The nutritional values of these fruits and vegetables should be exactly the same as freshly picked fruit. However, some of these are very high in sodium or sugar. Some canned fruits have added sugar or syrup which can lessen the health benefits you experience. If you are buying canned fruit then try to find brands that are low in sugar and sodium.

Which is Better?

Canned food isn't as popular as fresh because the taste and texture is so different. Nutritionally speaking, however, they are very similar. If you can't get fresh fruits or vegetables for any reason, then canned is certainly a good alternative.