The wilted and ugly vegetables are actually still edible, but ...

Vegetables and fruits that look tempting fresh are your first choice when stopping at a grocer or supermarket near your home. But did you know that even wilted vegetables are still fit for consumption? Then, what about the nutritional content?

The nutritional content of wilted and “ugly” looking vegetables is still the same as fresh

There are some fruits and vegetables that look "ugly" compared to their peers that are produced from the same field. But wishful thinking was thrown away. Even though the appearance is not perfect, it does not mean that these fruits and vegetables are not suitable for consumption. Because food is still food, even if it doesn't look good.

Reporting from Health, Rachel Beller, a nutritionist in Los Angeles, said that as long as the fruit and vegetables still look fresh and are not rotten or stale, the physical appearance that is slightly wilted and imperfect is actually not a problem. He guarantees, that food that looks imperfect still has the same content as other similar foods.

According to the founder of the Beller Nutritional Institute, all types of food, fruit and vegetables can add to your daily nutrition. Many people eat less fruit and vegetables, and the habit of distinguishing fruits and vegetables from their appearance will only make you stay away from healthy foods.

Then, how do you process these ugly vegetables to keep them nutritious?

There is no difference between how to prepare ugly wilted vegetables and fresh vegetables. Starting from fried, boiled, steamed, baked, until baked, everything is fine. The nutritional content is also eleven twelve with other fresh fruits and vegetables.

You just need to make sure that the ugly vegetables are washed clean. If there is a small portion of fruit or vegetable that seems too ripe or damaged (for example, a leaf tip bitten by a caterpillar or a spot of a part of the fruit that is slightly lumpy), you can cut it off to throw it away and eat the rest.

Basically, the best way of processing and consuming vegetables depends on the type of vegetable itself. The only thing that needs to be underlined is that when the vegetable has been removed from the stem, at that time the nutritional content has been partially reduced. Vegetables get a supply of nutrients directly from the plant or the plant itself. So when the nutritional supply is cut off, the nutritional content of the vegetables decreases.

There are also types of vegetables whose nutritional and vitamin content can be stronger if processed properly. Like carrots, when boiled, the content of carotenoids such as beta carotene can increase. Meanwhile, if steamed, the content of vitamin C and carotenoids can be reduced but it can increase levels of phenolic acid (a type of antioxidant).

Make no mistake! There are repercussions for throwing out bad fruit and vegetables

One data shows that more than a third of the food in the world is wasted just because of its appearance. Yet if used properly, this number could feed the billions of hungry people in the world. Not only that, the habit of wasting food with a bad appearance is also considered a habit that can damage the balance of life. This is because disposing of such food contributes to environmental damage.

Some experts claim that waste from these foods contributes to about 8% of global climate pollution. Research also states that throwing away food can have an impact on the increasing number of people suffering from hunger.

These impacts do not include wastage of water and air pollution from food left to rot in the trash. If in fact a wilted fruit or vegetable has the same perfect value, are you sure you will still throw it away?