Can This Ingredient Help You Absorb Nutrients?
If you’re trying to eat healthier, cooking at home is a foolproof strategy. Playing chef allows you to control what goes into meals and what doesn’t, like excess sodium or sugar. Certain cooking methods can also impact how our body absorbs nutrients.
The cornerstone of a healthy diet is eating a variety of whole foods rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Research shows prioritizing plants — vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains — yields the most health benefits, from improved heart health to longevity.
But our bodies can only take in a certain amount of the nutrients these foods offer and excrete the rest, registered dietitian and TODAY contributor Kristin Kirkpatrick, previously explained. Fortunately, there are ways to maximize a food’s bioavailability, or the fraction of nutrients consumed that the body can actually absorb, utilize or store.
Excerpted from Today
