Many of us are are looking for ways to stay healthy and age gracefully. We are trying to avoid or lessen the possibility of suffering from some illness now or when we are older. Everyone wants to lengthen their time on this earth so that we can be here with those we love. Enjoy life for as long as possible.
To do this, we have to work hard at it. We have to eat healthier foods and less processed foods. When we get sick, we visit the doctor and come out with tons of prescriptions. Have you ever read the side effects to these prescription drugs?
It’s incredible. There are those that help cure an infection but can damage your kidneys. Some medications help you with allergies, head colds, congestion but accelerate your heart beat or raise your blood pressure, even spike your sugar levels. What do we do?
Let’s give our bodies a chance to get healthy again, give it a break. How about going back to nature, back to the way our grandfathers, great grandfathers use to cure their ailments. Let’s use the herbs, fruits and vegetables that we eat on a daily basis and add them to our daily meals.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you completely stop visiting a doctor but with these foods, you can at least boost your immune system, make your body stronger and slow down aging.
Here are just a few of the foods we eat daily that can be incorporated into our every day meals:
TOMATO
The red pigment contained in the tomatoes is called lycopene. It’s a compound that acts as an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that can damage cells in the body. To get the most of this antioxidant form the tomatoes, make sure to pick them with the most brilliant shines of reds. Researchers have learned that lycopene can actually reduce the risk of such cancers:
10 servings or more reduce Prostate cancer by more than 45% 7 servings of raw tomatoes, reduce the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers by 60%. It was also found that it is a powerful antioxidant that can help combat breast, lung and endometrial cancers.
They can be eaten raw or cooked; they do not lose any of the nutritional values when cooked. If you cook them in olive oil, it actually helps your body absorb the lycopene even better.
CARROTS
We all remember hearing mom say, eat your carrots to keep our eyesight healthy. Guess what, she was right. Carrots have what is called beta-carotene. This helps prevent night blindness. They also found that it can help with reducing lung cancer. In some cultures, they believe that it can also help with other problems such as sexual impotence, sexual dysfunction and long term cough.
When you purchase the carrots, first thing you do is cut off the leafy part at the top if it is still attached. This part of the carrot sucks out all the nutritional value of the carrot. A serving size of half of cup a day is more than enough of the recommended daily dosage. Eating them raw is good but if you cook them, it breaks down the fiber, allowing your body to absorb the beta-carotene. To get the full benefits of daily dose, add the carrots to your juice blends. Also if you add a drop of olive oil to it, it will help your body absorb it even faster.
Note: If you are pregnant, it is believed that you should consume a lower serving of carrots because the carrot seed is a nerve tonic and can induce abortion.
CILANTRO
This herb is used by so many cultures to enhance the taste of the foods they cook. The aromas of the foods are rich and many exotic. That is not all this herb offers. Researchers have found that this particular herb can help bind heavy metals loosened from tissue, blood and organs. It is also removes mercury from our bodies which we consume when we eat certain fish and fillings in our mouths. The oil released by this herb help stimulate digestion.
It can also add fiber to the digestive tract, increases the good cholesterol HDL and reduces the bad cholesterol LDL, helps with insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar, contains immune boosting properties, wards off urinary tract infections, helps reduce bad breath and it contains high amounts of vitamins. This herb has even more benefits than noted above. It not only adds taste to your foods but also helps your system.
Note: There are some sources that warn that pregnant woman should not use this herb during pregnancy as it may lead to an increased chance of miscarriage. For those trying to conceive, it can actually reduce the chance of conception.
ONIONS
In addition to the taste it adds to our foods, onions have many health benefits. The more pungent the smell when we are cutting it up, the better it is, the more nutrients it has. Did you know that the tears we release while cutting the onion are actually releasing toxins from our bodies? So I guess this is what you call a good cry. Not only does this satisfy our taste buds but helps us combat certain ailments, such as cancer.
This vegetable contains almost all the nutrients our bodies need. It contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals such as phosphorus, zinc and potassium. It also has calcium and vitamins. The list of diseases onions can cure is long. It can prevent asthma. There is also a home remedy for asthma prevention (mix one tbsp of onion juice with half a tbsp of honey and mix it together, drink it three to four times a day and this will help prevent future asthma attacks). It can also prevent other ailments such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancer (one of the best health benefits).
It can help reduce the chance of diabetes. It has the properties to actually reduce blood sugar levels and increase the production of insulin. The onion can cure sinus infections just by smelling a cut onion and it can cure insomnia. To cure insomnia, just slice it up, place it in a jar and inhale. Less than 15 minutes later you are off to dream land.
There is no question about it, onions are good for you, healthy and something we should all make sure to add to our meals on a daily basis.
POTATO
Most of us love potatoes but are afraid to eat them if we are trying to stay lean and fit but did you know that the potato contains so many nutritional values that could help our bodies function better.
Potatoes are a rich source of vitamin C which enhance our immune system. For those that are afraid to eat it because it is high in carbohydrates will be very surprised to know that the fiber in potatoes actually help burn those extra calories you are trying to get rid of. It contains vitamin B6 which helps prevent heart disease, kidney stones, premenstrual syndrome and depression.
A single potato contains more than 1,627g of potassium. It contains more potassium and fewer carbohydrates than a banana. Potassium is needed in our body, lack of it, can cause high blood pressure and salt sensitivity. Its iron level helps keep hemoglobin levels normal in our bodies.
Remember, the potato is very nutritional. The problem is not the potato; it’s how we prepare it. We all go for the fried, salty and fatty snack. The best way to eat a potato is baked. Don’t peel the skin off, just wash it real well, and scrub it as much as you can without harming the skin. Enjoy the benefits it gives you.
BROCCOLI
Many do not like broccoli, especially children. If you put broccoli on a child’s plate they will cringe. However, broccoli packs the most nutritional punch than any other vegetable. It has vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, fiber, folate, calcium and potassium, just to name a few.
When women are pregnant broccoli is something that should be added to their diet. It has folate (folic acid) which promotes healthy tissue and protects against birth defects. For women that are trying to conceive, it’s a good idea to add this to your diet also, that extra folic acid will help when you greatly in your quest.
In recent years it has been found that this vegetable can help prevent or aid in controlling a long list of illness such as prostate cancer, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach ulcers, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and even the aging process.
There are many ways to cook and prepare broccoli. Of course the best way to eat broccoli is raw or lightly cooked. If overcooked, it will be soggy and they will lose all its nutrients.
BEANS
Beans are a major source of fiber, when it passes through our digestive tract it traps bile that contains cholesterol, flushing it out of your system. It is said that by eating beans on a daily basis, at least 3/4 of a cup a day, will help lower your cholesterol. A study was done that after doing this on a daily basis for 6 weeks; cholesterol was lowered by 19% and heart attacks by 40%.
For those that suffer from diabetes, this is a big aid to them. The fiber helps create more insulin receptors, allowing the insulin to get to the cells it needs to, instead of floating freely through the bloodstream. Since diabetes sufferers have a higher risk of heart attacks, this should become a part of their daily diet.
It has also been found that it can help in keeping cells normal and preventing them from becoming cancerous, so of course, it is a great aid to help prevent prostate cancer. A study was done that Hispanic woman have half the risk of breast cancer than white women because of the beans in their diet. Since it has such a high fiber content, it helps with digestive problems and constipation.
Beans can also help you curb your appetite and gives your body energy that can be burned quickly, which promotes weight loss. It is also a good source of protein and it is low fat. To get the full health benefits of the beans, it is best if they are “dry” compared to those that are canned.
RED BELL PEPPERS
All peppers are rich in vitamins A, K and C but red peppers are have more then all the others. The antioxidants can help prevent cell damage, diseases related to aging, and boost the immune system. It also known to reduce arthritis, asthma and strengthens bones.
The lycopene in the red pepper can help prevent cancer of the bladder, cervix, and pancreas. It is a great source of fiber. They contain what is called “capsaicin” which helps the functions of the lungs so it helps reduce respiratory illnesses such as asthma, helps them breathe easier. Peppers also helps increase the body’s heat and consumption of oxygen, which allows it to burn extra calories, helping in weight loss.
It can be eaten raw or cooked, you can use it to add flavor to any meal. If you are trying to gain weight don’t include too much of this into your meals, as noted above, it actually is an aid in weight loss.
CUCUMBERS
They are one of the best natural diuretics known to promote the flow of urine. This mean it’s a great aid in preventing kidney and bladder infections. It is also beneficial in aiding with high and low blood pressure. This helps digest protein, promote hair growth, prevent teeth and gum disease. The high mineral content helps prevent splitting of nails on hands and feet.
Since it is known for removing accumulated waste and toxins in our body, it can improve arthritis. It helps to reduce heat and inflammation in the body. Helps in blood circulation, relaxes nerves and muscles. It benefits those with diabetes, heartburn, soothes acid stomach and gastritis.
It is a great aid for weight loss. They are best eaten raw and unpeeled. Also another vegetable that should be added to your meals especially if you are an expectant mother, it is a natural source of folic acid.
A little cosmetic tip, if your eyes are puffy and tired. Just take a couple of slices, lay back and place them over your eyes. They will reduce the puffiness and soothe the eyes. A cucumber mask will also come in handy; it restores your skins pH levels.
AVOCADOS
Many stay away from avocados because of its high calorie and fat content but yet it is actually very beneficial to our diets. Sufferers of diabetes have a problem with cholesterol triglyceride levels. Avocados contain oleic acid and this helps reduce bad cholesterol and increase our good cholesterol. It is also known to reduce the triglycerides.
It is high in fiber, monosaturated fats and folate. One avocado has 30% more potassium than a banana which helps in lowering high blood pressure. It contains 10 grams of fiber, which help prevent certain types of cancers such as colon cancer.
They provide about 30% of the recommended daily dosage of folate which prevents life threatening birth defects of the spine and brain. You can’t go wrong eating avocados; it’s nice to know something that tastes so good can be so beneficial to you.
If after all this you are still afraid of the high calorie content than purchase avocados grown in Florida instead of those grown in California. The avocados grown in Florida contain 2/3 of the calories found in those grown in California.