Raw vs Cooked

Stop 1/5

Is raw always healthier

EVIDENCEGUIDE 1

READ THE ORIGINAL

Heat has no universal rule for nutrients: in the same pot it takes some nutrients apart and releases others so the body absorbs them better.

The line "raw is healthier" squeezes this into a slogan. The answer depends on which nutrient, which food, and how you cook it. The next four chapters split heat into four actions: releasing nutrients locked inside cells, destroying heat-sensitive vitamins, carrying off some antinutrients, and knocking out certain useful enzymes.

One group of foods has no raw option at all: raw or undercooked common beans such as green beans and red kidney beans contain a plant lectin that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. They must be cooked through.

Educational content, not medical advice — consult a clinician.

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Raw vs Cooked

Read full story

Stop 1/5

Is raw always healthier

EVIDENCEGUIDE 1

READ THE ORIGINAL

Heat has no universal rule for nutrients: in the same pot it takes some nutrients apart and releases others so the body absorbs them better.

The line "raw is healthier" squeezes this into a slogan. The answer depends on which nutrient, which food, and how you cook it. The next four chapters split heat into four actions: releasing nutrients locked inside cells, destroying heat-sensitive vitamins, carrying off some antinutrients, and knocking out certain useful enzymes.

One group of foods has no raw option at all: raw or undercooked common beans such as green beans and red kidney beans contain a plant lectin that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. They must be cooked through.

Educational content, not medical advice — consult a clinician.