Canned Fruit

Question
My fiance said that canned fruit has no nutricianal value because it's been processed.  I disagree with him.  Who's right?
And, what is the nutricianal difference between fresh and canned fruits and veggies?

Thank you!

Answer
This is a much debated subject!!  They say that canned fruit can provide some nutrition.  If fact, fruit begins to change its nutritional value as soon as it is picked so depending on the time frame of when it is picked and when it reaches the grocery store and when you actually buy it and eat it much of the nutritional value can be gone.  When food is canned or frozen it is done so very quickly after being picked, which can save some of the nutritional value.  However, fresh fruit does offer more fiber than that of canned because it has the skin intact.  The biggest problem with canned fruit is the "added" sugar.
Processing can effect some of the nutritional value so it is "one of these, and one of those".  Who is right?  That is hard to say.  Your best bet is to get a combination of the two!
Here are a few articles that may shed some more light on the subject:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columnnn/nn970122.html
http://www.coopfoodstore.com/news/Archives/arch_nutatt/seasonal/tomatoes.html
Thanks,
Kim Tessmer,RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net  

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