Fresh vs Frozen

Picture healthy food…you likely think of fresh fruit and vegetables, like juicy berries, ripe tomatoes, crunchy carrots and vibrant broccoli. All packed neatly in the fridge, ready for that inspiring smoothie, salad, stir-fry or side dish.

That’s because we all know that fruit and veg is great for our bodies, protecting us against a variety of health issues, and they make us feel great, too.

But what about frozen fruit and veg…why doesn’t that spring to mind?

Despite storage and nutritional advantages, consumption of frozen fruit and veg is low compared with fresh…and continues to decrease.

It’s time to rethink what we know about fresh and frozen fruit and veg.

Fresh

Research into ‘Antioxidants in Fresh and Frozen Fruit and Vegetables’ by University of Chester and Leatherhead Food Research found that 66% of cases show a loss of antioxidants in fresh fruit and veg, such as polyphenols, vitamin C, beta carotene and lutein, compared to frozen.

Generally fruit and veg are over 90% water. Meaning that after harvest, the produce shows accelerated respiration, causing moisture loss, increasing the rate of spoilage.

So after they are picked, packed and transported, they continue to lose many of their nutrients in long distance travel and storage, before they reach the supermarket, and eventually your plate.

FROZEN

Research from the University of Georgia also found that frozen produce retained more nutrients, than fresh produce.

This is because blanching and then freezing or snap freezing fruit and veg, moments after harvest, puts the process of naturally occurring enzymes on hold – which would normally lead to spoiling – locking in higher levels of vitamins and antioxidants, than ‘fresh’ varieties.

Vitamin C is the least stable nutrient, degrading immediately after harvest.

In a study of fresh green peas, they lost up to 51% during the first 24-48 hours, and will continue to degrade steadily. While prolonged storage (one year)

at -18 to -20 degrees can average 20-50% loss.

THE WINNER!

Research into the nutrient content of eight common fruits and veg, at several different seasonal points over a 2 year period

– split into fresh, fresh-stored (fridge) and frozen – found no significant difference in the nutrient content. The most important aspect for both fresh and frozen is to look at the overall quality of the original harvest, and ensuring no added ingredients or added preservatives are present, which is where organic and local produce can help.

Organic produce has been proven to contain similar amounts of nutrients as non organic produce…However, the key benefit is fewer pesticides, no genetically modified components and no synthetic chemicals…linking demonstrable health benefits with organic food consumption.

In summary, don’t be afraid of frozen fruit and veg, which have lots of great benefits that make them an excellent addition to your shopping list. All fruit and veg is great for our bodies, and are the healthiest foods available for us to eat.

Get your 5-a-day by combining fruit and veg from organic, local, regional, supermarket, farmers market, fresh, and frozen sources…depending on where you are at on your journey and budget.