In our daily lives, where we are constantly running after time, frozen foods often represent a practical and quick solution. However, faced with the many questions about their impact on our health, it is important to analyze their advantages and disadvantages.
Preservation of nutritional qualities
Contrary to what one might believe, freezing allows the nutritional qualities of foods to be optimally preserved. In fact, this process consists of rapidly reducing the temperature of products to a very low temperature (-18°C or less), thus almost completely stopping the action of enzymes and micro-organisms responsible for the degradation and loss of vitamins. , minerals and other essential nutrients. Thus, a vegetable frozen a few hours after picking generally contains more vitamins than a fresh vegetable that has spent several days in a refrigerator.
It is therefore wrong to think that freezing systematically destroys the nutritional qualities of foods.. However, some vitamins such as vitamin C are more sensitive to oxidation caused by changes in temperature, this means a small decrease in the content of certain nutrients may be observed after thawing and cooking.
Nutritional variation depending on the product
Although freezing can preserve the nutritional qualities of foods, it is important to emphasize that it also depends on the type of food. For example, an overripe fruit or a vegetable damaged before freezing will lose more nutritional quality than a fresh, better quality food originally.
Potential dangers of frozen foods
Despite its benefits, excessive consumption of frozen foods can pose certain health risks.
Overconsumption of food additives
In particular, frozen ready-made meals are often rich in salt, sugar, fats and food additives (preservatives, colorings, flavor enhancers, etc.) added in order to extend their shelf life, improve their visual appearance or strengthen their flavor. These elements, when consumed in excess, can promote various health problems such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity and even cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, it should be noted that frozen food packaging often contains plastic that may contain bisphenol A or other harmful substances that can migrate into the food over time. It is therefore recommended to store and reheat frozen foods in glass or ceramic containers to limit the risks.
Frozen foods and balanced diet
To maintain good health, it is essential to respect a balanced diet based on the diversity and quality of the products consumed. With this in mind, frozen foods can be an interesting alternative to fresh products, especially in winter or when you don’t have time to cook.
Healthy alternatives to prepared meals
It is possible to enjoy the benefits of frozen foods while avoiding their potential drawbacks by carefully selecting the products you purchase. Thus, favoring plain frozen vegetables (without sauce or added ingredients) and unbreaded frozen fish allows you to benefit from an interesting source of nutrients without adding salt, sugar or food additives.
- Choose frozen vegetables instead of canned vegetables to best preserve vitamins and minerals.
- Comparison of nutritional labels of prepared meals in order to choose the least fatty and salty options.
Finally, do not hesitate to consult your doctor for personalized advice on the consumption of frozen foods as part of a balanced diet adapted to your specific needs.
