Many believe choosing healthy foods is enough for good health, but we all have habits like eating raw. While fruits, tartares, gazpachos, carpaccio, and similar dishes are fine occasionally, some foods should never be eaten uncooked. For your health, here are the ones that must be cooked first.
Not all foods benefit equally from being raw. Some, like those rich in omega-3 or vitamin C, provide more nutrients uncooked, while cooking enhances absorption of beneficial compounds in others. It also destroys germs and parasites. For raw meats (tartares, carpaccio) and fish, never break the cold chain—eat the day of purchase or freeze for at least 48 hours to eliminate parasites.
Perfect nutrition involves nuances many overlook. Chicken must obviously be cooked, but tomatoes too? Yes—cooking boosts lycopene bioavailability, a powerful antioxidant protecting cells from free radicals. Potatoes, green beans, and aubergines require it as well. Raw, they can be toxic, containing solanine (in potatoes and green beans), which vanishes when cooked. Mushrooms must also hit the grill first.
