dehydrated vegetables

Question
Can you please give me a brief explanation of what the dehydration of a vegetable does to its nutritional value?  Does the dehydration process destroy its healthy properties?
Thank you!
Pamela

Answer
Hello Pamela!

   Thank you for your nutrition question.  Dehydrated vegetables only lose water during the process and do retain their nutritional value.  Food dehydration, like body dehydration, depends on  two conditions. But, unlike body dehydration (which can be harmful), food dehydration, or food drying, is done with a specific purpose in mind: to preserve the food from spoiling in the most natural way possible. That is, food dehydration can be defined as a process of inactivating enzymes, or removing water (moisture) from a food to a point at which bacterial and other spoilage microorganisms are inhibited from growing. Properly dehydrated or dried food can last for months without refrigeration.  
   For more answers to your nutrition questions check out "Ask the Nutritionists: Answers to your Nutrition Questions" available at www.authorhouse.com, online, or at your favorite bookstore. Hope this helps!

-George Rapitis, Bsc. Nutritionist
www.juiceblend.com  

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