Capsicum to Cabbage: 6 vegetables you shouldn’t eat raw and what to do instead

As we scroll through social media, every other health expert and fitness enthusiast talks about eating raw vegetables and how cooking decreases their nutritional value. But, did you know that this rule doesn't apply well to some veggies? Some veggies, when consumed raw, might result in major health issues, potentially leading to liver damage. In a recent Instagram video, health and wellness expert Dimple Jangda discussed vegetables that should never be consumed raw. According to her, these vegetables harbor parasites and bacteria like E. coli or even tapeworms and tapeworm eggs. If they enter the gut, bloodstream, or even the brain, they can cause serious diseases like cysticercosis, seizures, headaches, liver damage, and even cysts in the muscles. Hence, one should avoid consuming them raw. She adds that the cooking method doesn't matter—boiling, blanching, steaming, or cooking—they are all helpful. Just ensure you cook your food at least lightly before consuming it. just ensure to cook your foods at least lightly before you consume them.

According to Dimple, one should always blanch them in hot water before using them in a diet. In the video, she also mentioned that the same rule applies to spinach and kale. Blanch them in hot water because they’re linked to high oxalate levels, which reduces when you blanch them.

According to her, cabbage is notorious for harboring tapeworms and tapeworm eggs, which are invisible to the naked eye. Some of these tapeworms have survived the harshest insecticides and pesticides, so your vegetable washes are too mild for them, she added in the video. "Blanch your cabbage in hot water and then cook it well before you consume it," she advises. Cabbage is loaded with vitamins C and K, along with fiber and antioxidants—all while being very low in calories. This makes it ideal for those looking to manage weight without compromising on nutrition.

According to Dimple, this practice should stop. One should remember to remove the crown, deseed the capsicum, and run it under hot water because the seeds can also harbor tapeworm eggs, which survive inside the fruit.

Remember to cook it really well to kill these parasites, tapeworms, and tapeworm eggs before they enter our bloodstream. In fact, aubergine is such a complex vegetable that many households in India don’t bring this vegetable home. Hence, it is important to take extra care while cooking such vegetables.

Also known as karela, they can irritate the stomach and may cause nausea, diarrhoea, or hypoglycemia in sensitive individuals. As per experts, cooking them with spices reduces the harsh compounds and bitterness.

It is said that store-bought white mushrooms—contain toxins and tough fibers that are poorly digested when raw. Cleaning them and cooking them properly improves nutrient absorption and kills harmful microbes.

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