What You Need to Know
Wild mushrooms contain ergosterol that photochemically converts to vitamin D₂ under UV exposure; heating reduces cyanogenic glycosides in berries; blanching leaches oxalic acid from greens; steam distillation extracts volatile terpenes; refrigeration slows bacterial growth; drying removes moisture to preserve phenolics.
The Science
Primary Reaction
UV-induced conversion of ergosterol to vitamin D₂; thermal degradation of cyanogenic glycosides; leaching of oxalic acid by blanching; steam distillation of terpenes; refrigeration and drying for preservation