Fruits And Vegetables: More Than Water

Here’s something to warm one’s taste, especially for vegetable and fruit lovers.

In a study appearing in Nutrition Notes, food is mostly water, but in the case of fruits and vegetables, is it all but a small percentage of the edible portion.  For example, raw cauliflower is 91% water; carrot 88.2%; cabbage 92.4%; so called “dry” onions 89.1%.

Yet the water in fruits and vegetables carries in solution 94.5% of the vitamin C supply from food; 49.2% of the vitamin A; 42% of the folic acid; 29.9% of the vitamin B6; 19.9% of the iron; 25.7% of the magnesium; 18.8% of the thiamine; 18.7% of the niacin; and a large part of the trace minerals of all kinds.

It’s a remarkable kind of water.  Not only does it carry a wide spectrum of nutrients, but the water is germ-free.

The selection and filtration ability of plants is such that the water in the cells is virtually uncontaminated.  It is better than distilled water because the distilled product carries no vitamins or minerals, while the liquid in all fruits and vegetables makes a contribution to nutrition, and in some cases, a large contribution.

In addition to the presence of much water, what differentiates fruits and vegetables from other kinds of foods is the presence of what scientists call phytochemicals or “plant chemicals.” Phytochemicals have the ability to nourish and strengthen the immune system, including the prevention and treatment of disease.  Researchers were able to discover the cancer-blocking phytochemical, called sulforaphane. not only in broccoli, but also in other vegetables such as brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower.

There are other important nutrients that come from fruits and vegetables (but only if they are not cooked) – enzymes.  Enzymes are active proteins basic to all living processes in the body.  They are essential for every chemical reaction and normal activity of the organs, tissues, and cells, including the production of energy to run cellular functions.  Digestive enzymes, for example, enable the body to digest food, while others help in ridding the body of toxins and cellular debris.  The use of anticoagulants and proteolytic enzymes by alternative doctors can effectively reduce the invasive or metastatic potential of cancer cells.

Do you know that…within 30 seconds of drinking water, it becomes part of your blood; within a minute it reaches the brain tissues and reproductive organs; within 30 minutes it reaches every part of your body.