Vegetables You Should Not Eat Raw (2024)

Chances are you know that eating raw meat, especially raw seafood, can carry significant health risks. Raw eggs these days are also not recommended due to the high potential for salmonella in the United States food system. And there tends to be a fair amount of controversy over the consumption of raw milk. But did you know that even some vegetables should not be consumed raw?

I’ve been reading the book Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson. It is a wonderful read, fascinating and thought-provoking while sharing how changes in food preparation and tools have impacted our diet. It’s astonishing to realize how much our food catalog expanded once we learned how to cook.

Some of the things on this list must be cooked because otherwise they are poisonous. Other things on the list are better cooked because it improves their nutritional value.

Vegetables To Not Eat Raw

Asparagus

This wonderful vegetable can be consumed raw however the antioxidant qualities increase after cooking

Broccoli

Although it is fine to eat broccoli in its raw state, cooking improves the amount of glucosinolates, anti-carcinogenic compounds. It's important to note that those with thryoid issues do best to avoid raw broccoli (and other cruciferous vegetables) due to high levels of goitrogens which interfere with thyroid function.

Chaya

This is a super food that comes from the Yucatán, it’s similar to spinach. However it has cyanide in the leaves which is not neutralized until it’s cooked making it important to not eat this vegetable in it's raw state.

Eggplant

One of the nightshade vegetables and high in the glycoalkaloid solanine, eating eggplant in it's raw state delivers a higher level of solanines. For those who have issues to arthritis or an HLA-B27 genetic marker eggplant should be avoided in the diet along with other nightshades.

Elderberries

Elderberries are know as a wonderful immune boosting superfood and many people make or take elderberry tonics during the winter. Raw elderberries are actually quite toxic, it’s only after cooking that they are beneficial for us.

Lima beans

These are another raw food that contains a compound that turns into cyanide, fortunately cooking is the answer to break that down

Mushrooms

Raw these contain chitin which has the potential to upset your digestive system

Potatoes

Raw potatoes contain glycoalkaloids which can upset your stomach, luckily they don’t taste good raw

Tomatoes

In season and fresh, not the insipid grocery store variety, there is nothing quite so delicious as a raw tomato. It turns out however, they have more of the antioxidant lycopene when they are cooked.

Yucca/Cassava

Cassava flour is a very popular alternative for many who eat gluten-free. This starchy tuber, however, contains cyanide in its raw state. Cassava requires a somewhat complex processing in order to neutralize it before it can be eaten; soon after harvesting it needs to be dried, soaked, rinsed, and then cooked.

Sources

Cardoso, MJ, Nicolau, AI, Borda, D., Nielsen, L., Maia, RL, Møretrø, T, Ferreira, V, Knøchel, S, Langsrud, S., & Teixeira, P. (2021). Salmonella in eggs: From shopping to consumption—A review providing an evidence-based analysis of risk factors. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2021 20:; 1−26

Vegetables You Should Not Eat Raw (2024)

FAQs

Vegetables You Should Not Eat Raw? ›

Food items like cucumbers, carrots, radishes, beetroot and tomatoes can be eaten raw in the form of salads.

Which vegetables can be eaten raw? ›

Food items like cucumbers, carrots, radishes, beetroot and tomatoes can be eaten raw in the form of salads.

What foods are unsafe to eat raw? ›

  • Raw potatoes can irritate your gastrointestinal system. ...
  • Raw oysters can be dangerous for those with compromised immune systems. ...
  • Drinking unpasteurized milk can be dangerous to your health. ...
  • Eating raw flour in any capacity can make you sick. ...
  • Eating raw kidney beans can lead to symptoms similar to food poisoning.
Jul 23, 2019

Why can't we eat raw vegetables? ›

When you eat raw veggies, your digestive system is tasked with breaking down the food components. The tough fiber in veggies (cellulose) is not broken down and the "roughage" can irritate the digestive tract as it passes through.

Is it safe to eat broccoli raw? ›

Broccoli is a nutrient-packed vegetable that can be eaten safely either raw or cooked. Cooking may enhance the antioxidant activity of broccoli, but it may also reduce its content of certain heat-sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin C and sulforaphane.

What vegetable should not be eaten raw? ›

These are the 6 vegetables that should never be consumed raw
  • Potatoes. Uncooked potatoes not only taste bad but can also lead to digestive problems. ...
  • Cruciferous Vegetables. ...
  • Red Kidney Beans. ...
  • Mushrooms. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • French Beans.

What veggies are better cooked than raw? ›

Nine vegetables that are healthier for you when cooked
  • Asparagus. All living things are made up of cells, and in vegetables, important nutrients are sometimes trapped within these cell walls. ...
  • Mushrooms. ...
  • Spinach. ...
  • Tomatoes. ...
  • Carrots. ...
  • Bell peppers. ...
  • Brassica. ...
  • Green beans.

Which raw food is toxic without cooking? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Eat Raw
  • Potatoes. Potatoes contain a natural pesticide, solanine. ...
  • Rhubarb Leaves. The rhubarb stalk can be consumed without any hesitation. ...
  • Elderberries. ...
  • Raw Red Kidney Beans. ...
  • Apple Seeds. ...
  • Raw Milk. ...
  • Raw Lima Beans.
Mar 27, 2019

What raw vegetables can I eat every day? ›

8 Best Vegetables to Eat Raw & Benefits of Eating Raw Vegetables
  • Red Bell Pepper. Red bell peppers are often roasted with a roast beef dinner or used as an ingredient in a stir-fry or a vegetable platter. ...
  • Kale. ...
  • Beets. ...
  • Zucchini. ...
  • Parsnips. ...
  • Garlic. ...
  • Arugula. ...
  • Artichokes.
Apr 4, 2024

What are the healthiest foods to eat raw? ›

The following foods are suitable for most raw food diets:

freshly made fruit and vegetable juices. soaked and sprouted beans, other legumes, and grains. raw nuts and seeds. raw nut butters, such as peanut butter and almond butter.

What vegetables should I avoid? ›

Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and winter squash can raise blood sugars because they are rich in carbohydrates,” Kitchens says. To keep your blood glucose in the black, keep starchy veggie intake moderate.

Are raw carrots healthy? ›

Raw carrots can be a nutritious and filling snack, and their fiber can help ease constipation. But if you eat them cooked, your body can better absorb the beta carotene in them, and it reduces your chances of getting sick from a contaminated carrot.

What happens to your body when you start eating raw vegetables? ›

Chapman Family Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, says incorporating raw foods, specifically vegetables and fruits, into your diet can have numerous health benefits. “You will likely have more energy, better skin, improved digestion and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease once you get used to eating raw food,” she says.

Which beans can be eaten raw? ›

Sweet green shelling peas are bountiful in the spring and delicious eaten right out of the pod. Similarly, fava beans are a great bean to eat raw. When they're very young, they can even be eaten pod and all. Mung beans aren't the flashiest legume, but they contain zero lectins and are packed with nutrition.

Can you eat raw cabbage? ›

In addition to being super healthy, cabbage is delicious. It can be eaten raw or cooked and added to a wide variety of dishes like salads, soups, stews, and slaws. This versatile veggie can even be fermented and made into sauerkraut. In addition to being adaptable to many recipes, cabbage is extremely affordable.

Can I eat cauliflower raw? ›

Cauliflower may be just what you're searching for. This versatile veggie can be eaten raw, cooked, roasted, grilled, baked into a pizza crust, or cooked and mashed as a substitute for mashed potatoes. You can even rice cauliflower and serve it in place of white rice.

Which vegetable can be eaten raw as salad? ›

The list of salad vegetables includes broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, endive, escarole, green onions, lettuce, mushrooms, peas, bell peppers, chili peppers, radishes, romaine, spinach and tomatoes.

What are the best raw vegetables for snacking? ›

Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, and onions all make for great vegetable snacks, says registered dietitian-nutritionist Brittany Poulson.

Which raw vegetables are easy to digest? ›

Raw vegetables
  • beans.
  • broccoli.
  • Brussels sprouts.
  • cabbage.
  • cauliflower.
  • corn.
  • mushrooms.
  • onion.
Mar 25, 2024

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