z zapped!: health

Do you microwave your veggies? If so, they won't be as good for you.

Most vegetables contain antioxidants, chemical compounds that protect your cells. In a new study, food scientist Cristina Garcia-Viguera found that broccoli loses most of its antioxidants when microwaved. She says the extreme heat probably destroys the compounds. Fewer antioxidants are lost when broccoli is boiled or steamed.

Look at the graph (right). What is the difference in the percentage of antioxidants remaining in steamed broccoli compared with microwaved broccoli?

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