12 Health Foods You Probably Never Knew You Were Eating Wrong

Flaxseeds are the ultimate nutrition boost to put in your morning smoothie. But if you want to reap all the Omega-3's, fiber, and cancer-fighting lignans, you're going to have to grind them up first. Our bodies usually aren't able to digest whole flaxseeds, but grinding them up unlocks all the good stuff our bodies need.

I'm a sucker for fresh tomatoes, but to really get all their goodness out, it's actually better to cook them. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which helps battle cancer, and if you want to absorb as much of it as you can, you should be cooking your tomatoes. If you heat your tomatoes up to 190 °F, you'll be helping them release their optimal antioxidant content.

Black tea is one of the best things you can drink to maintain your health. Not only does it have plenty of antioxidants, but it's also great for your heart! But before you add a bit of milk to your daily cup, remember that while it won't affect the antioxidants in your tea, dairy will negate the cardiovascular benefits of this powerful drink. If you just can't drink your tea without some milk mixed in, switch out your moo juice for soy or almond milk instead.

For some foods, the question isn't if you should cook them, but how.  Broccoli is one of those veggies, so if you want to get all the Vitamin C and chlorophyll that you can from these tree-like veggies, avoid frying or boiling them and steam them instead.

Who doesn't love these red treats chopped up in a fruit salad? But if you really want all the health benefits these berries possess — and trust me, there are a lot — avoid cutting them as long as possible. Certain nutrients, such as Vitamin C, deteriorate in the presence of light and oxygen. So to get all the antioxidants and vitamins out of these fruits, eat them whole or wait until the last possible minute to chop them up.

You've probably heard all about the benefits of eating whole grains and beans, but a lot of the nutrients found inside these tiny powerhouses can be a little hard to access if you don't soak them before you eat them. Beans and whole grains contain phytates, which bind themselves to vitamins and minerals in food and prevent your body from absorbing them. To release them, soak your beans and whole grains (such as farro and wheat berries) overnight before you cook or eat them.

Unlike strawberries, garlic is actually healthier when it's exposed to the air. Allicin, which helps fight cancer and can be found inside this fragrant ingredient, becomes fully activated after receiving about ten minutes in the air. Mince your garlic before preparing your other ingredients, and you'll be able to get the most out of it when it goes into your body.

I know, I know: "Everything causes cancer nowadays, so why don't we just enjoy life and food and not worry about it?" If that's the path you want to take, go for it, but anyone who is worried about their health or is at a high risk for cancer should probably stay away from char-grilled meats. Two chemicals that can cause cancer form when meat is cooked at high temperatures. And if you're worried about food poisoning, use a meat thermometer to ensure that the center is cooked to the the minimum recommended temperature. The color of the meat alone isn't enough to be 100 percent sure that what you're eating is safe!

If you open your yogurt, see a watery substance at the top, and pour it out into the sink, stop. That's not water, it's whey. And it contains a bunch of good stuff like protein, vitamins, and minerals. Instead of tossing it, mix it in with the rest of your yogurt and I guarantee you won't even know it's there!

Steaming or stir-frying this tasty veggie is the best way to help it retain its high Vitamin C content, since it's water-soluble. And don't overdo it! The best way to enjoy asparagus is when it's tender, not mushy.

Wine lovers everywhere are probably aware of all the health benefits that come with sipping on a glass of red after work. The polyphenols this delicious drink contains are good for your heart and can even decrease depression. But if you let the bottle "breathe" overnight, all the good stuff starts to break down. If you want to get the most health benefits out of your wine, drink a freshly opened bottle instead.

So many people go to the extremes when munching on a salad — either they completely drown it in creamy dressing, or they just add a bit more flavor with a bit of lemon juice. But like most things, moderation is the key when it comes to getting your greens. While dumping a whole bottle of ranch on your lettuce is going to add a lot of calories, fat, and sugar to what was supposed to be a healthy meal, you shouldn't completely lay off the fats, either. The vitamins in vegetables are better absorbed when consumed with a bit of fat, so to get the most out of your salad, drizzle a bit (but not a ton!) of olive oil and vinegar on top.

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