Fresh vegetables contain a lot of water, with very little starch, protein, and fat, so they cannot be used as a primary energy source. However, they are an important source of minerals, dietary fiber, and vitamins. In recent years, eating vegetables has become a new trend in healthy eating. But did you know, you might be eating them wrong...
Eating tomatoes before meals
Tomatoes should be eaten after meals. This allows the stomach acid to mix with food, significantly reducing the acidity and preventing an increase in intra-gastric pressure that can cause gastric distension, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain and discomfort in babies.
Mixing carrots and radishes into a puree
Do not grind carrots and radishes into a puree together. This is because carrots contain an enzyme that destroys vitamin C, which will completely break down the vitamin C in the radishes.
Washing mushrooms too thoroughly or soaking them in water
Mushrooms contain ergosterol, which converts to vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. However, excessive washing or soaking before cooking will cause a significant loss of nutrients. Mushrooms should also not be cooked in iron or copper pots to avoid nutrient loss.
Excessive consumption of carotene
Although carotene is very nutritious for babies, it should be consumed in moderation. If a baby drinks too much vegetable juice made from carrots or tomatoes, it can lead to carotenemia, causing the skin on the face and hands to turn orange-yellow. This may be accompanied by loss of appetite, unstable mental state, irritability, poor sleep, as well as night terrors, crying, and sleep talking.
Be wary of the carcinogenic effects of excessive carotene
The traditional view is that supplementing with carotene not only reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cataracts but also has anti-cancer properties. However, recent test results have found that compared to a normal control group, the group that took β-carotene had not only a reduced incidence of lung cancer but was actually 28% higher.
Nutritionists analyze that a physiological dose (5 mg/day) of carotene does have a cancer-suppressing effect. However, excessive intake of carotene can prevent vitamin A from binding to its corresponding receptors, thereby blocking the conversion of tumor suppressor genes. The result is not cancer suppression but the opposite.
Therefore, the human body only needs a physiological dose of carotene. One must never arbitrarily increase the dosage. Normally, consuming natural foods rich in β-carotene, such as various animal livers, milk, carrots, chives, and tea, is sufficient.
Feeding babies un-blanched bitter melon
The oxalic acid in bitter melon can hinder the absorption of calcium from food. Therefore, it should be blanched in boiling water first to remove the oxalic acid before consumption. Babies who need a large amount of calcium should not eat too much bitter melon.
Feeding babies too much spinach
Spinach contains a large amount of oxalic acid and is not suitable for babies to eat in excess. Oxalic acid combines with calcium and zinc in the body to form calcium oxalate and zinc oxalate, which are not easily absorbed and excreted. This affects the absorption of calcium and zinc in the intestines, easily leading to calcium and zinc deficiency in babies, resulting in poor development of bones and teeth, and can also affect intellectual development.
Eating undercooked bean sprouts
Bean sprouts are tender, delicious, and nutritious, but they must be thoroughly cooked. Otherwise, eating them can cause adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Storing cooked chives for too long
Leftover chives can become toxic. Chives are best cooked and eaten immediately and should not be stored for long. If stored for too long, the large amount of nitrate in them can turn into nitrite, causing a toxic reaction. In addition, babies with indigestion should not eat chives.