Digestion: should we stop eating raw vegetables?

Verified on 02/25/2024 by Alexane Flament, Editor

Regular consumption of vegetables, whether cooked or raw, is strongly recommended because they are rich in good nutrients.

But, are raw vegetables good for everyone? What precautions should be taken with raw vegetables? We’ll explain!

Stocking up on vitamins to the detriment of good digestion?

Eating raw vegetables, or raw vegetables, is beneficial for your health because they provide vitamins, water, fiber and minerals.

Eating them raw allows for a greater intake of minerals and vitamins because cooking eliminates a large part of the vitamins and minerals contained in the food.

However, the consumption of raw vegetables may not be recommended for people who have a fragile digestive system. Indeed, raw fibers are more difficult to digest than cooked fibers.

In some people, this results in digestive disorders such as bloatingabdominal pain or even flatulence.

If you like raw vegetables but are prone to digestive disorders, follow these tips:

Peel your vegetables before eating them;
Seed them (the seeds are difficult to digest);
Choose the most digestible varieties (avoid cabbage!);
Eat them ripe;
Gradually increase the quantities to increase your digestive tolerance.

Recommendations for the preparation and consumption of raw vegetables

The risk of food poisoning is more important when eating raw rather than cooked vegetables.

To limit this risk as much as possible:

Choose mold-free vegetables.
Wash them before consuming them and peel them if necessary (especially for populations at risk: children under 5 years old and pregnant women).
In your fridge, place your fruits and vegetables separately from other foodstuffs because they can contaminate them (especially those grown in the ground).
Avoid preparing your salads and dishes based on raw vegetables in advance because the proliferation of bacteria on raw foods is very rapid.