Living a healthy lifestyle is very important especially now that the world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Eating the right kinds of food could help in preventing sickness and lowering the possibility of getting infected with COVID-19.

A healthy diet is one that is balanced and promotes the consumption of vegetables and fruits. However, food preparation is just as important as the meals we eat because how we handle our ingredients can greatly affect the nutritional value of our food.

According to the Atlas of Science, how we prepare or cook our meals is crucial in ensuring the nutrition of the food we eat. Certain fruits and chemicals must be handled the right way for their beneficial components could be lost when they are cooked or prepared the wrong way.

Pinkvilla has recently listed some of the healthy fruits and vegetables that are most often handled and eaten the wrong way by many people. Surprisingly, they are very common in most households.

The first one is garlic. This vegetable contains an important enzyme called allicin. People usually prepare garlic by chopping them and tossing them into the pan right away. However, allicins strength only increases when it is exposed to air. Hence, it is best to leave the garlic to rest for about 10 minutes after chopping it.

Tomatoes are also eaten the wrong way by many people since they are usually consumed raw. However, experts said that tomatoes should be cooked to enjoy the benefits of its lycopene content. The nutrition of this fruit/vegetable increases when it is heated.

Broccoli should never be fried or boiled, according to experts. They should be consumed raw or steamed. Broccoli is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and anti-cancer compounds that can be lost when the vegetable is fried or boiled.

Finally, theres kiwi. Many people like to peel the skin off the fruit before eating it. However, the skin of kiwi actually contains high concentrations of vitamin E, folate and other nutrients. Consuming the skin and the fruit as a whole is recommended.

Garlic on display during the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) London Harvest Festival Show at RHS Lindley Halls on October 6, 2015 in London, England. Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images

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Garlic, Tomatoes And Other Healthy Foods Youve Been Eating Wrong All This Time - Medical Daily