Foods That Fight Health Problems - Part II
- By Kevin Pederson
- Published 11/15/2007
- Nutrition
-
Rating:
Unrated
Foods That Fight Health Problems - Part II
- Bananas - Mother Nature’s perfect snack.
No preparation, no washing or refrigeration. They are prepackaged in a
biodegradable wrapper for perfect enjoyment. Since they are easily
digestible, they are often served as babies’ first food. Women
suffering from PMS can get a healthy serotonin rush by consuming a
banana. Bananas help build a shield against heart disease. They are
packed with potassium that helps fend off high blood pressure.
In short, the goodness of bananas battles cancer, heart diseases, high
blood pressure, kidney stones, premenstrual syndrome and strokes.
-
Barley – Barley with all its magic ingredients is good for heart
diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Beta-glucan fiber lowers cholesterol, while tocotrienol deactivates an
enzyme that tells the liver how to produce artery clogging cholesterol.
Barley is a quick fix for constipation. Just 1 cup of cooked barley can
provides approx 14 gms of fiber to get the bowels moving.
- Basil – Originally a cooking herb, Basil has found many uses as a medicinal herb too.
Basil weakens the ulcer producing activity of aspirin and alcohol,
fight inflammation and swelling and battle infection causing bacteria.
It also prevents colon cancer and helps build strong bones. Basil helps
reduce bloating and flatulence. If you overindulged with alcohol, drink
tea by steeping 2 tbsp of chopped fresh or dried basil leaves mixed in
1 cup of just boiling water for about 15 minutes.
Strain and sip and
feel the difference.
- Beans – These luscious legumes are loaded
with fiber and other nutrients to keep body running in top shape. Beans
fights cancer and cholesterol.
B vitamin folate reduces blood levels of
this shorter and more general term is frequently used to refer to alpha amino acids: those amino acids in which the amino and carboxylate functionalities are attached to the same carbon, the so-called α–carbon'); return false">Amino Acid involved
in heart disease. People having type 2 diabetes benefit from the
soluble fiber present in the beans. It slows down the passage of
carbohydrates from foods into the bloodstream. Beans fight the battle
of bulge as they control your appetite by taking up lots of room in
your tummy. If you keep forgetting things, people, etc, boost your
brainpower by eating a serving of beans few times are week.
-
Beef – Are you surprised to know that beef can help to fight common
health problems? Loaded with disease fighting nutrients, beef if you
buy lean gives no complaints. Lean beef lowers level of bad density
lipoprotein and improves levels of high density lipoprotein
cholesterol.
Beef supplies vitamins and minerals that maybe in short supply in a
diet. Selenium in beef is a powerful antioxidant that lowers the risk
of skin cancer, fights heart disease and wards off infections.
-
Beet – Heart shaped veggies, 1 cup of fresh beets gives 1/3 of daily
folate requirement. In short vitamin B that keeps homocysteine in
control so that it does not trigger a heart attack. Beta – cyanin, a
phytochemical that gives deep red colour is a cancer fighter. Beet
juice curbs normal healthy cells from changing into cancer cells. Beets
are good source of fiber for good bowel function.
Beet battles cancer, diabetic and heart disease.
-
Bell Peppers – Ring in health benefits with bell peppers. A red bell
pepper packs in twice as much vitamin C than an orange. Vitamin C acts
as an antioxidant eating up free radicals that cause cell damage
leading to heart disease and cancer. Vitamin C also bolsters your
immune system helping to lessen the severity and duration of a cold.
Lutein and zeaxanthin – two plant compounds in red bell peppers prevent
age related macular degeneration (ARMD) that is responsible for sharp
vision. ARMD is common cause of irreversible blindness in people.
Ophthalmologists recommend intake of these compounds from foods rather
than medicine or supplements.