Super Foods for keeping you young!
This month in Health, Mind and Body Flash we look at foods to keep you young and healthy.
There are a number of foods listed you may not necessarily enjoy and some you may. But all of them you should try to include in your diet on a daily, weekly, monthly, "FOREVERLY" basis!
If you want to increase your chances of living to a ripe old age and you want to do it in style as well - then indulge! Come on, you know you can. And the secret to this is to mix foods together. Don't try to sit down to a plate full of steamed Broccoli (unless that is what gets you going!) but try things with some sauces, seasoning and if you're not the one cooking and your parents are, then just suggest helping out by making a sauce or even cooking a meal for your family. If your family does not eat that healthily and you'd like to change things around your house then try talking about the way you all eat with your parents. Or get your hands on some information; like this article, and let all your friends and family read it.
The following is a list of foods that really will help you and your body to stay healthy and young.
Beans:
Eating beans, especially lentils and soybeans, have shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Soybeans are a great source of protein (low fat) and can be found in miso (soup), soy sauce, soy milk, tempeh and tofu. Some of these foods you may not be familiar with, but they are readily available at the supermarket.
CITRUS FRUIT:
Oranges:
Oranges are a natural anti-cancer inhibitor. Not only are they an excellent source of Vitamin C but the Vitamin C in them helps to make collagen. Collagen is essential for healthy skin.
Grapefruit is great too as it has a natural fibre which helps to reduce cholesterol and this can help against artherosclerosis (a disease which blocks the arteries).
Broccoli:
Amazing super food! As much as you may hate it - it is an awesome food! Packed with an array of antioxidants, packed with Vitamin C and Beta-carotene, folate and Vitamin E. It is rich in chromium, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Best eaten slightly raw.
Carrots:
High in Vitamins A and C with good sources of dietary fibre, carrots are fabulous in fighting disease, especially ageing diseases. Eating a carrot every day helps lower blood cholesterol by up to 10%. Beta-carotene in carrots help fight disease and those who have lower levels of Beta-carotene in their blood are more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack when they're older.
Tomato:
Tomatoes are a rich source of Lycopene; forms the red pigment to produce their colour. Recent studies and research suggest that it is this pigment and substance that may in fact preserve mental and physical functioning among the elderly as well as reduce risks of pancreatic, cervical and prostate disease.
Spinach:
Ok - we all think of Popeye here? (Or is that something from my era and am I showing my age?) But spinach is another super food! A green leafy vegetable - the ones we are always told to eat - if eaten with something else it is not quite so hard to swallow! Mixed up with a risotto or in a casserole it can be just as good for you. Research shows that those who eat a lot of Spinach are much less likely to get cancer. A massive source of antioxidants, it's great! Try it in a sandwich with cheese and mustard!
More super foods next month!
- Michelle Palmer (michelle@girl.com.au)
There are a number of foods listed you may not necessarily enjoy and some you may. But all of them you should try to include in your diet on a daily, weekly, monthly, "FOREVERLY" basis!
If you want to increase your chances of living to a ripe old age and you want to do it in style as well - then indulge! Come on, you know you can. And the secret to this is to mix foods together. Don't try to sit down to a plate full of steamed Broccoli (unless that is what gets you going!) but try things with some sauces, seasoning and if you're not the one cooking and your parents are, then just suggest helping out by making a sauce or even cooking a meal for your family. If your family does not eat that healthily and you'd like to change things around your house then try talking about the way you all eat with your parents. Or get your hands on some information; like this article, and let all your friends and family read it.
The following is a list of foods that really will help you and your body to stay healthy and young.
Beans:
Eating beans, especially lentils and soybeans, have shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Soybeans are a great source of protein (low fat) and can be found in miso (soup), soy sauce, soy milk, tempeh and tofu. Some of these foods you may not be familiar with, but they are readily available at the supermarket.
CITRUS FRUIT:
Oranges:
Oranges are a natural anti-cancer inhibitor. Not only are they an excellent source of Vitamin C but the Vitamin C in them helps to make collagen. Collagen is essential for healthy skin.
Grapefruit is great too as it has a natural fibre which helps to reduce cholesterol and this can help against artherosclerosis (a disease which blocks the arteries).
Broccoli:
Amazing super food! As much as you may hate it - it is an awesome food! Packed with an array of antioxidants, packed with Vitamin C and Beta-carotene, folate and Vitamin E. It is rich in chromium, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Best eaten slightly raw.
Carrots:
High in Vitamins A and C with good sources of dietary fibre, carrots are fabulous in fighting disease, especially ageing diseases. Eating a carrot every day helps lower blood cholesterol by up to 10%. Beta-carotene in carrots help fight disease and those who have lower levels of Beta-carotene in their blood are more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack when they're older.
Tomato:
Tomatoes are a rich source of Lycopene; forms the red pigment to produce their colour. Recent studies and research suggest that it is this pigment and substance that may in fact preserve mental and physical functioning among the elderly as well as reduce risks of pancreatic, cervical and prostate disease.
Spinach:
Ok - we all think of Popeye here? (Or is that something from my era and am I showing my age?) But spinach is another super food! A green leafy vegetable - the ones we are always told to eat - if eaten with something else it is not quite so hard to swallow! Mixed up with a risotto or in a casserole it can be just as good for you. Research shows that those who eat a lot of Spinach are much less likely to get cancer. A massive source of antioxidants, it's great! Try it in a sandwich with cheese and mustard!
More super foods next month!
- Michelle Palmer (michelle@girl.com.au)
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