The effect of heating on the vitamin C content of selected vegetables

Abstract

Vitamin C is important for the human body function. People usually fulfill their vitamin C needs with food intake. A supplement intake also exists when needed. Vegetables are rich in various phytochemicals, biologically active substances with beneficial health effects, and are daily sources of vitamins and minerals for the body. The vitamin C content of eight widely used vegetables was established with the use of two assays (NBS and DCPIP). Food processing i.e. boiling, steaming and microwaving was used to establish vitamin C retention in cauliflower, peppers (red and green), potatoes (yellow and red), carrots, cabbage, and eggplant. The results obtained suggest that the most suitable cooking technique in terms of vitamin C retention is steaming.