The NHS GP has revealed some surprising kitchen food hacks
An NHS GP has said that you’re probably eating many fruits and veg wrong. Dr Karan Raj aka @dr.karanr shared his “kitchen food hacks” saying that if we want to get all the health benefits possible, there’s a few things we can do.
In his video, the doctor noted that you should never throw away the greens of a strawberry. The reason for this is that it contains just as much good stuff as the red berry itself.
He notes: “A strawberry top with the leaf is known as a caylx and it has nutritional value on par with the berry itself. The leaves are packed with polyphenols which are antioxidants. and the leafs contain almost as much vitamin C as the berry. Not to mention the tops contain other nutrients like magnesium and an extra bit of fibre too.”
When it comes to having an apple, eat the apple core too. The GP says: “Most of the good gut bacteria or beneficial probiotics, which are found in the Apple and which are good for your health, are actually found in the Apple core rather than the flesh or the skin of the fruit.
“Eating the apple core also increases your intake of probiotic fibres and reduces food waste.” But that’s not the only thing you are eating wrong as the next time you’re eating broccoli, consider eating this stem as well as the floret, he says.
“Whilst the floret may boast higher levels of vitamin A, the stem contains just as many other nutrients things like vitamin C, E, K. potassium, magnesium, iron, folate, zinc. Not to mention it more insoluble fibres to contribute to your daily fibre intake.”
Finally, Dr Raj says if you’ve got a radish plant, be careful as you could be throwing away all the good bits. He explains: “If you’ve got radish and you’re eating the leaves, you’re missing half of the plant.
“The leaves of the radish plant are packed with both vitamin C and vitamin A, In fact just 100 g of the leafs can offer almost a quarter of your vitamin C intake for the day.”
When it comes to eating fruit and veg, The Eatwell Guide by the NHS says people should “aim to eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and veg each day. Choose from fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced.”
In addition to eating well, we need to drink well too. Currently, the government recommends 6 to 8 cups or glasses a day. Water, lower-fat milks, lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks and tea and coffee all count. Fruit juice and smoothies also count towards your fluid consumption however they contain free sugars that can damage teeth. Because of this, limit these drinks to a combined total of 150ml a day.