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THE TOP SUPERFOODS
- Vibha Jain
Healthy food today no longer means insipid, unpalatable plate of grass and leaves. There's whole new mainstream meaning to it, foods fresh from the supermarket that medical researchers believe can make us healthy. There's evidence from the laboratory too. Did you know that there is a
substance in Cabbage and its clan that actually may 'trap' cancer-causing agents in the body before they do any harm. Or that carrots rich in beta-carotene can decrease your risk of lung cancer ? Listed are some foods, which I have gathered after speaking to healthy people and Nutritionists and foods that you can find in any supermarket. And I offer them now to you with
a toast : To your health :
BANANAS : The banana disputes the old theory that if something tastes good it can't be good for you. Bananas are a great tasting source of potassium. Vitamin B6 and biotin, B Vitamin.A medium banana contains about 100 calories making it a deli-cious snack for dieters.
BRAN: Rich in fibre and lowers cholesterol by as much as B 13 per cent. Wheat bran. Oat bran and corn bran are the popular brans available.
CABBAGE AND ITS CLAN :Cabbage, and cauliflower all figure prominently in the anti cancer diet. These vegetables enhance a natural detoxification system in the small intestine that keeps the carcinogens away.
CARROTS : These are very high in beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A that is associated with a decreased risk of cancer. High in Fibre, low in calories, even the crunch in carrots is good, toning and strengthening the gums.
CITRUS FRUITS : These are Oranges, Tangerine, Lime and are rich sources of vitamin A, C and B and pectin fibre which all have a synergistic effect that may prevent cancer.
FISH : Would yon believe you could lower your blood pressure and cholesterol by eating mackerel and salmon? These types of fish contain EPA, a fat-by acid that protects against heart
disease which help by controlling other fats that can clog the blood stream.
GARLIC AND ONION : Bad for your breath but wonderful for the rest of you. They can lower your cholesterol and their oils inhibit tumour growth Onions have been used to slow down platelet clumping which can lead to deadly blood clots.
HERBS AND SPICES : Refill your salt and sugar. Sprinkler with herbs and spices .A dash of Dill powder, Cinnamon, Curry leaf powder and wonderful appetisers are good for your health.
SPINACH AND LEAFY GREENS : Your mother insisted that you eat your leafy green vegetables. Here's why you should: Greens like spinach contain chlorophyll, a substance that help plants turn sunlight into food. Chlorophyll also has been found to lower the tendency of cancer causing agents which cause damage to the body cells.
NUTS : You can consume a considerable portion of your minimum daily requirements of zinc during an afternoon snack if you're snacking on nuts. Nuts especially cashews and almonds are very high in this trace mineral so necessary for cell growth. But don’t go nutty with nuts because you are also consuming calories so enjoy them in moderation,
SEEDS: High in zinc and protein, seeds like pumpkin, sunflower and Sesame seeds are rich in vitamin E essential for maintenance of skin and also has anticancer properties.
SPROUTS: They are more than just a grassy accompaniment to salad and sandwich. After germination sprouted seeds become richer in vitamin C. Moongh bean sprouts are high in
Magnesium and calcium but the best are wheat sprout, rich in vitamin E and C which inhibit the genetic damage to cells caused by some cancer causing agents.
SQYA BEANS: They're good protein as good as animal sources. They lower cholesterol. They can be consumed as tofu (curd) and miso(paste}.
WHEAT GERM: The B vitamin Thiamine is abundant in only few foods but one of them is wheat germ. Which is also rich in vitamin B6 and E. Sprinkle wheat germ on salads, soups or in dough.
YOGHURT: An easily digestible food, better than milk. Cholesterol levels have shown to drop with consumption of skimmed milk. Yogurt. rich in calcium and all the nutrients in a glass of
Milk should be consumed daily to benefit from a complete nutrient regime.
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