Most people try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by including nutritious foods in their daily diet—such as vegetables, pulses, salads, fruits, and nuts. While these foods are naturally rich in nutrients, experts say that simply eating them is not enough. The way you cook, store, and consume them plays a major role in determining how much nutrition your body actually absorbs.
Many people complain that despite eating healthy, they aren’t seeing noticeable benefits. According to nutrition specialists, this happens because of common mistakes that unknowingly reduce the nutritional value of food. Here are the habits that experts say may be affecting your health.
What experts say
Dietitian Namami Aggarwal, who frequently shares health-related posts on social media, recently highlighted several mistakes people make that significantly lower the nutritional value of their meals. These include overcooking food, using incorrect cooking utensils, drinking tea or coffee immediately after meals, and improper food storage.
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Overcooking vegetables
Namami explains that many people use very high heat when cooking vegetables. This practice destroys essential vitamins such as vitamin C and folate. To retain nutrients, the best methods are steaming or lightly roasting, as they help preserve the natural vitamins in vegetables.
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Cutting fruits in advance
Experts recommend consuming fruits fresh. However, some people cut fruits and store them for later, while others leave them exposed to air. This leads to oxidation, causing vitamins—especially vitamin C—to break down faster. Freshly cut fruits always offer the best nutritional benefits.
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Drinking tea or coffee with meals
Tea and coffee contain tannins, which interfere with the absorption of important minerals like iron. When consumed with meals, they significantly reduce nutrient absorption. Experts advise keeping a gap between meals and tea or coffee to ensure proper digestion and better nutrient uptake.
