If you have been a victim of food-borne illnesses or you’ve noticed a pattern where you’ve fallen sick after dining out, then the World Health Organisation (WHO) has some advice for you. A recent WHO report informs that 420,000 people have died and 600 million people have fallen ill across the world over the years due to the consumption of contaminated food. Read on to know what you can do to avoid suffering from food-borne illnesses.
Food Must Be Consumed Immediately After Cooking It
As per an article by The Indian Express, WHO has advised people to consume food immediately after cooking it. This can prevent food-borne illnesses. Infact, WHO has a list of 10 Golden Rules involving safe food preparation. One of which is eating food immediately after preparation.
Dr Suranjit Chatterjee stated to The Indian Express, that enjoying a meal right after it is cooked can offer double benefits. The Senior Consultant of Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals stated that cooking eliminates the harmful microorganisms present in raw ingredients. However, once the food cools down and reaches temperatures between 5°C and 60°C, that’s when the problem starts. It reaches a zone where bacteria can multiply at a rapid pace. This makes the food, a breeding ground for food-borne illnesses.
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Ayurveda: Food Must Be Eaten Within 3 Hours Of Preparation
Apart from the food being safe for consumption, eating food immediately after it’s cooked also pumps you up with the necessary nutrients. When cooked food is left out it can diminish essential nutrients and will be less beneficial for one’s health. Some nutrients, especially vitamins are sensitive to heat, air and light. So, they tend to reduce when cooked food is kept out.
Moreover, Dr Chatterjee stated to The Indian Express, that reheated meals will be less tasty as their flavours and textures get affected too. It can dry out and lose out on desirable flavours. Ayurveda states that freshly cooked food must be eaten within 3 hours of cooking. And it’s best to avoid leftover food for more than 24 hours.
So, for the sake of your health, you should try to consume fresh food as much as possible to avoid food-borne illnesses.
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