Are Frozen Foods Healthy?

Wellness

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 15:23

To ask whether all frozen foods are healthy is to ask if all kinds of water are healthy. The answer is very obvious, 'no'. The nutrition of frozen foods can either be preserved or destroyed even before they are frozen for preservation. That is why the basic quality of the food before it is preserved plays a major role in determining its health benefits or hazards later on. There are many other factors that determine whether frozen food is healthy or otherwise and they are not all related to the food itself.

Here are some good health tips to help you eat the right kind of frozen food.

Tips To Choose Healthy Frozen Food:

• First of all you need to see 'what' is the food that is being frozen because all kinds of food cannot be have the same criteria for being healthy or unhealthy.

• Some kinds of food are better frozen than fresh as they say. If you are talking about chocolate or ice cream then it has to be frozen to be edible in the first place.

• For some types of food it does not make a difference whether it is frozen or fresh. For example, the nutrition value of frozen food like fruits is not diminished.

• We are not suggesting that you can keep apples in your refrigerator for as long as you wish. But if you buy an apple frozen for preservation and defrost it then it will be nutritious.

• Some frozen foods are not healthy because the lose their nutritional value upon being frozen. This is not because of the freezing process in itself but how this preservation happens. Meat, fish, seafood can all lose its nutritional value if it is not preserved properly.

• For meat and other raw non-vegetarian items a very high concentration of sodium (salt) is used for preservation. This could render the food unhealthy, specially for people who have hypertension and kidney malfunction problems.

• Another important thing to look out for in frozen food is a chemical called sodium nitrite. It is usually present in processed meat and is responsible for that fresh pink colour. It is a carcinogen that you must not consume. Always read the food labels to look for these details.

• Storage of frozen food is a major factor in determining its goodness. If food is stored at the right temperature then in will stay good and if the cooling is not sufficient then the it will start rotting from within.

• Storage of frozen food is important even after you buy it. If you buy frozen items then you need to rush home before it gets defrosted. At home, your refrigerator does not go to the minimum temperatures required for perfect freezing so you can't store it forever. Consume it within 3 or 4 days. Also meat goes into the freezer and vegetables in the box below.

All frozen foods are not healthy and not under all condition so choose wisely.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.