Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Health Benefits of Broccoli


Broccoli is a great source of calcium, the calcium in it being more easily accessed by the body than from milk. 

Uncooked broccoli is a great source of Vitamin K, essential 

for the proper clotting of the blood if you are cut. Heat from cooking destroys all the vitamin K. 


The phytochemicals 
(plant chemicals) in broccoli, as in all 
edible plants, are still yet being discovered as to what and why they benefit.
Broccoli is part of a family of veggies known as cruciferous vegetables. These vegetables contain phytonutrients, which have anticancer properties. Human population and animal studies show that diets high in cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, are associated with a lower risk of breast, ovarian, lung, colon and bladder cancer.
One cup of steamed broccoli contains:
  • 205 percent of the RDA of vitamin C
  • 190 percent of the RDA of vitamin K
  • 46 percent of the RDA of vitamin A
  • 24 percent of the RDA of foliate
  • 19 percent of the RDA of dietary fiber
  • 17 percent of the RDA of manganese
  • 15 percent of the RDA of calcium
Broccoli also contains significant amounts of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, iron and zinc.

Health Benefits of Mushroom


Though mushrooms are commonly thought to have little nutritional value, many species are high in fiber and provide vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, cobalamins,ascorbic acid.Though not normally a significant source of vitamin D, some mushrooms can become significant sources after exposure to ultraviolet light, though this also darkens their skin. Mushrooms are also a source of some minerals, including iron, selenium, potassium and phosphorus.

Mushrooms should not be confused with mold and 
fungi however, which do not form fleshy fruit 
bodies. To learn more about the details of how mushrooms grow and propagate, please listen to the interview or read through the transcript. The common button mushroom, while not as 'interesting' as its more exotic cousins, is an excellent low-calorie food, especially for diabetics. It contains a number of valuable nutrients, including:


·         Protein


·         Enzymes
·         B vitamins (especially niacin)
·         Vitamin D2

Bell Pepper Health Benefits

Bell peppers contain very high amounts of vitamin C and Vitamin A. One cup of raw, red bell peppers supplies roughly 290 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C and 105 percent of the RDA for vitamin A. Bell peppers also contain significant amounts of vitamin B 6 and dietary fiber.

Bell peppers are a great, low calorie snack. One red bell pepper contains only 30 to 40 calories and has a satisfying crunchy bite. The fiber that bell peppers contain will help you to feel full with very few calories. Keep slices of bell peppers in the refrigerator, so you’ll always have something healthy to reach for when you’re having a snack attack.
Bell peppers are a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are free radical scavengers that help to keep the body in tip-top shape. Not only are bell peppers high in the antioxidant vitamins C and A, they are also a good source of lycopene. Consuming foods with lycopene has been shown to lower the risk of prostate, bladder, cervical and pancreatic cancers.
Red bell peppers contain lutein, a phytonutrient that has been proven to have a protective benefit against macular degeneration.

Potato Health Benefits


Nutrition experts recommend starchy foods including potatoes as a perfect base for a healthy balanced diet.
Potatoes are a starchy food, which means they are a source of energy as well as providing fibre, vitamins and minerals. Potatoes are naturally fat free. They have a low energy density (the amount of calories/kilojoules they provide per gram) which makes them ideal for helping with weight management when cooked with little or no fat and served in appropriate amounts.
Potato, nutritionally rich tuberous root vegetable, is a good source of starch, vitamins and fiber. The humble tuber is one of the most widely grown perennial crops and one of the cheap staple food items of the poor population all over the world. Botanically, it belongs to the various perennial subspecies of Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family.

Health Benefits if Cabbage


Cabbage contains important Vital Substances like Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Cink and Iron. In addition cabbage contains a great deal of insoluble fiber too.

- Vitamine A protects your skin and eyes 

- Vitamine B boosts your energy metabolism and helps with concentration. 

- Vitamine C - one cup shredded cabbage implies around 34 milligrams 

- Vitamine E - a great source of vitamin E, making it good for the complexion. 

- Potassium - Its high portion of potassium purifies your body and skin 

- Selen helps body releasing second messengers for a good feeling 

Cabbage can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you will cook it by steaming. The fiber-related components in cabbage do a better job of binding together with bile acids in your digestive tract when they've been steamed. When this binding process takes place, it's easier for bile acids to be excreted, and the result is a lowering of your cholesterol levels. Raw cabbage still has cholesterol-lowering ability, just not as much as steamed cabbage.


Health Benefits of Radish


Radishes and their greens provide an excellent source of vitamin C.
Content of their root and are also a good source of calcium.  
Red Globes also offer a very good source of the trace mineral 
molybdenum and are a good source of potassium and folic acid.
Daikons provide a very good source of potassium and copper.
Radishes, like other member of 
the cruciferous family (cabbage, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), contain cancer-protective properties.  Throughout 
history radishes have been effective when used as a medicinal food for liver 
disorders.  They contain a variety of sulfur-based chemicals that increase the flow of 
bile.  Therefore, they help to maintain a healthy gallbladder and liver, and improve 
digestion.  Fresh radish roots contain a larger amount of vitamin C than cooked 
radish roots.  Radish greens, contain far more vitamin C, calcium, and protein than 
the roots.  

Health Benefits of Raspberry


Raspberries rank in the top 10 antioxidant-high fruits and vegetables! They possess almost 50% higher antioxidant activity than strawberries.

Antioxidants are believed to help prevent and repair oxidative stress, a process that damages body cells and has been linked to the development of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Raspberries provide important anti-inflammatories, including anthocyanins (the pigments in red, purple and blue fruits), which are believed to help reduce cardiovascular disease and diabetes, help to improve eyesight and memory functions.
Ellagic acids, which may slow down the growth of some cancer cells, is found in raspberries (including the seeds!), in fact raspberries are a leading source of the acid.
Research has also shown that ellagic acid from raspberries is easily absorbed by the body. The seeds of raspberries also serve as beneficial "roughage" in the digestive tract.