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Scientists have disproved the view that canning is harmful
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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At the University of California, scientists have found that canning does not harm the human body, as was previously believed. Experts noted that healthy eating involves eating vegetables and fruits, but canned products were considered harmful to health, as they contain a lot of salt and sugar, and all the useful substances are destroyed during heat treatment.
Experts studied the health of more than 40 thousand people (adults and children), the researchers' attention was drawn to the diet of volunteers and the overall quality of nutrition and found that during preservation, nutrients are preserved, so they are not so harmful to health.
The observations found that people who ate canned foods had a slightly higher average diet quality score than those who did not eat them at all, with similar results observed in children.
About 11% of the participants in the experiment ate canned food every day and, as the scientists found out, their body received a certain amount of some useful substances, but at the same time the amount of fat, sugar and caloric content increased. The scientists also noted that regardless of whether a person ate canned food or not, blood pressure, weight and other indicators did not differ significantly, and the levels of sugar and salt in the diet of all the participants in the experiment were also approximately the same.
Among children, experts have found that when canned vegetables and fruits are consumed, the child's body receives more calcium, magnesium, vitamin A and protein.
The researchers suggested that those who enjoy canned food may want to consider eating fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, which are known to retain the maximum amount of nutrients.
Scientists note that you should not give up canned food, but you should give preference to those products that contain a minimum amount of sugar or salt. It is also recommended to drain the juice and wash canned vegetables or fruits well before eating them.
Scientists from the University of California have made another interesting discovery - in their opinion, in order to normalize your weight, it is not at all necessary to change your diet or limit yourself in food, it is enough to simply start chewing more slowly.
Scientists urge parents to teach their children to chew food slowly from childhood, taking a break between each bite of an average of 25-30 seconds. This approach will allow the child to understand in time when he is full, thereby avoiding overeating.
Experts studied the health of children aged 6 to 17 for a year; a total of 54 children took part in the project. The researchers divided all participants into groups, in one the children had to chew food slowly, in the second – not, and a control group was also created, with which the results obtained were compared at the end of the experiment.
A year later, the scientists were amazed: after a year, the weight of children in the first group decreased by an average of 4%, while the weight of children in the second group increased by an average of 10% (in the control group, children gained an average of 7%).
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