Eating nutritious food is essential to one's wellbeing. Numerous
studies have shown that a well balanced diet is necessary to ensure
"super resistance".
Levels of antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables help free the
radicals which are highly destructive to the body.
Some of the fruits and vegetables to include in a diet for optimum health are:
Avocados
Contains a source of :
Potassium
Vitamins A ,B,C,and E
Protein
Avocado oil (monostaturated fat)
Lutein
Good for :
the heart
Circulation
Anti-aging
Protects arteries from hardening
Protects eyes from Cataracts
Protects eyes from Macular degenerations.
Berries
Contains a source of :
Vitamin c
High concentrations of powerful antiaging antioxidants
Good for:
The heart
Blood Circulation
Helps prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
Vegetable of the Crucifer family
These include:
Brocolli
Cauliflower
Horseradish
Cabbage
Spring greens
Turnips
Brussel sprouts
Contains a source of :
Sulforaphane
Helps protect against:
Cancer ,specially cancer of the colon
Heart disease
Joint problems
Beetroot
Virtually fat free – there are only 36 calories per 100g
Contains a source of :
iron
folic acid
vitamin A, B and C
calcium
phosphorus
potassium
magnesium
antioxidant properties
high in fibre
betaine
mineral boron
Helps protect against:
tiredness and anaemia
reduces blood pressure
helps us relax
gives a feel good effect
Carrots
Contains a source of :
Beta-carotene
vitamin A,C and E
Helps protect against:
Respiratory infections
Disorders of the skin and eyes
Cancer, specially lung cancer
Protects the arteries
Tomatoes
Contains a source of :
Beta-carotene
lycopene
vitamin C and E
Helps protect against:
Cardiovascular system
Some forms of cancer , particularly prostrate
Protects against sunburn
Antioxidant
Beneficial for high blood pressure and fluid retention (due to the low salt and high potassium content)
Garlic
Contains a source of :
Sulphur
Helps protect against:
Bacterial infections
Fungal infections
Viral infections
Cancer
Heart
Chest infections
Asthma
Rheumatism
Arthritis
Gout
Pomegranate
Contains a source of:
Antioxidants
Helps protect against:
Heart disease
Circulatory disease
Degenerative conditions
Inflammatory conditions
Cancer
Oats
Contains a source of:
Protein
Polyunsaturated fats
Vitamins E and B
Calcium
Potassium
Magnesium
Silicon
Helps protect against:
Nervous system disease
Bone and Teeth disease
Heart disease
Reduces Cholesterol
Protects the digestive surfaces.
Oily fish
These include:
Herring
Mackerel
Pilchards
Sardines
Sprats
Whitebait
Antichoves
Contains a source of:
Fatty acid Mega 3 (Polyunsaturate)
Helps protect against
Heart disease
Nervous System disease
Seed & Nuts
These include:
Almonds
Brazil nuts
Cashewnuts
Hazel nuts
Pine seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame seeds
Sunflower seeds
Contains a source of:
Essential fats
Vitamin E
Calcium
Magnesium
Zinc
Selenium
Bananas
Contains three natural sugars:
sucrose,
fructose
glucose
fiber
A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. It can also help overcome or prevent substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:
People suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:
Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar le vels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:
According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
FEEL GOOD WITH THESE NUTRITIOUS JUICES
Carrot + Ginger + Apple
Apple + Cucumber + Celery
Tomato + Carrot + Apple
Bitter gourd + Apple + Milk
Orange + Ginger + Cucumber
Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon
Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi
Pear & Banana
Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango
Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk
Papaya + Pineapple + Milk
Banana + Pineapple + Milk
TURMERIC
Can This Miracle Spice Stop Cancer, Alzheimer's and Arthritis?
For more than 5,000 years, turmeric has been an important part of Eastern cultural traditions, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.. Valued for its medicinal properties and warm, peppery flavor, this yellow-orange spice has more recently earned a name for itself in Western medicine as well.
Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, which is native to Indonesia and southern India, and is widely used as an ingredient in curry dishes and yellow mustard. As research into this powerful spice has increased, it has emerged as one of nature’s most powerful potential healers.
There is little it cannot do in the realm of healing and much that no other herb is able to accomplish.
Turmeric has a broad spectrum of actions, mild but certain effects, and is beneficial for long term and daily usage. Though it is a common spice, few people, including herbalists know of its great value and are using it to the extent possible. It is an herb that one should get to know and live with.”
Turmeric’s Beneficial Effects
Relieve arthritis pain and stiffness, anti-inflammatory agent
Anti-carcinogenic: “Curcumin has been shown to prevent a large of number of cancers in animal studies.
Laboratory data indicate that curcumin can inhibit tumor initiation, promotion, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis.
Supports treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: “Because Alzheimer's disease is caused in part by amyloid-induced inflammation, curcumin has been shown to be effective against Alzheimer's.
Curcumin: Turmeric’s Active Anti-Inflammatory “Ingredient”
Most notably turmeric is known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, which come from curcumin -- the pigment that gives turmeric its yellow-orange color, and which is thought to be responsible for many of its medicinal effects. There are an estimated three to five grams of curcumin in 100 grams of turmeric.
Turmeric’s Cancer-Fighting Properties
In India where turmeric is widely used, the prevalence of four common U.S. cancers -- colon, breast, prostate and lung -- is 10 times lower. In fact, prostate cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in U.S. men, is rare in India and this is attributed, in part, to turmeric. Numerous studies have looked into this potential cancer-fighting link, with promising results. For instance, curcumin has been found to:
Turmeric’s Essential Role for Your Liver
Your liver’s primary role is to process and remove toxins carried in your bloodstream. When functioning at its peak, it can filter up to two liters of blood per minute and easily break apart toxic molecules to reduce their toxicity. Your liver is also a crucial part of vitamin, mineral, protein, fat, carbohydrate and hormonal metabolism. However, poor diet, allergens, pollution and stress can cause your liver to become sluggish, and this can impair its vital functions. This is where turmeric can be a very useful part of your liver support system. Studies have shown that it:
Turmeric for Your Heart, Brain and Overall Health
Turmeric inhibits free radical damage of fats, including cholesterol. When cholesterol is damaged in this way, or oxidized, it can then damage your blood vessels and lead to a heart attack or stroke. Therefore, research suggests that turmeric’s ability to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol may be beneficial for your heart. It’s also rich in vitamin B6, high intakes of which are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. Meanwhile, turmeric appears to be highly protective against neurodegenerative diseases.
Inhibit radiation-induced chromosome damage
Prevent the formation of harmful heterocyclic amines and nitroso compounds, which may result in the body when eating certain processed foods, such as processed meat products
Irreversibly inhibit the multiplication of leukemia cells in a cell culture
Turmeric's volatile oils also have external anti-bacterial action. And the therapeutic potential of turmeric and curcumin do not end there. Evidence suggests the spice may also be beneficial for:
Which Type of Turmeric is Best?
For use in cooking, choose a pure turmeric powder, rather than a curry powder. At least one study has found that curry powders tend to contain very little curcumin, compared to turmeric powder. Turmeric is also available in supplement form and for many this is a more convenient method to obtain these health benefits discussed above, especially if they are from a high-quality organic source and if one doesn’t particularly enjoy the taste of curry.
Take 1/4 tea spoon of tumeric and 1/4 tea spoon of ginger powder add 1/2 tea spoon of pure honey in cup of warm water. Drink it 2 to 3 times a week.
THE PEPPER
The humble pepper has a very surprising secret - it is a wealth of Vitamin C.
'The pepper contains three times more Vitamin C than oranges and other citrus fruit. 'They are a little-known, yet rich source of this immune-boosting vitamin.'
They have other nutritional benefits, too.
Red peppers are ripened green peppers. As such, they contain more nutrients - a red pepper contains twice the Vitamin C of a green one, and ten times the Vitamin A.
One cup of raw, chopped red pepper gives 100 to 150 per cent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C and 80 per cent of Vitamin A.
They are also a rich source of plant chemicals lycopene, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin - pigments that give peppers their red and orange colours - and contain folic acid, potassium and iron.
So peppers can help tackle a range of diseases and conditions, including:
Arthritis: Vitamin C - along with antioxidants beta-cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene, and found in red peppers - play a key role in protecting against arthritis. They found that patients who had developed inflammatory joint diseases had a 40 per cent lower intake of these compounds than those who had not developed such illnesses.
Cancer: As rich sources of beta-carotene and lycopene, red peppers could help stave off cancer. In an analysis of 21 studies, men who ate a diet rich in lycopene had an 11 to 19 per cent reduced risk of prostate cancer.
Fertility: Red peppers are a rich source of beta-carotene, which in the body is converted into Vitamin A. 'This is needed for a healthy reproductive system and for the synthesis of sex hormones.
Cardiovascular disease: Pigments such as beta-carotene and lycopene can cut cholesterol levels by 5.9 per cent with 'bad' cholesterol levels falling by 12.9 per cent, according to research in the British Journal Of Nutrition.
Blindness: Red and yellow pigments found in red peppers and the Vitamin C help to protect eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts - both leading causes of blindness. A study found that those who eat diets rich in peppers have a significantly lower risk of developing eye diseases in later life. They believe plant pigments are taken up by the eye where they protect against the damaging effects of UV radiation.
To benefit from their Vitamin C content, eat freshly chopped red peppers in salads or fry slowly on a low heat.
'Vitamin C is destroyed by heat and is also water-soluble so if you boil red peppers, you'll lose a lot in the water.
'Levels of Vitamin C drop as soon as peppers have been chopped, so only cut up just before eating.'
To get the most beta-carotene and lycopene, cook in olive oil and add oil to salad dressings.
'These pigments are oil-soluble so adding oil will help your body absorb them.