"Can you Chew on this?"

peopletv.org

Ever wonder why certain foods are almost always shown in those advertisements for eating healthy and living longer? Usually there are a bunch of the greenest vegetables ever shown falling into a pan, and often to break up the green, you see a hint of colors, usually red or yellow. More often than not, that flash of red is our familiar old carrot. Which got me thinking…what is really the big deal about these long, semi-sweet, not really detestable, but then again not really loveable, vegetable?


Honestly speaking, the only thing that really comes to my mind when I think about your average carrot is the fact that Bugs Bunny was obsessed with them. Which prompted me to dig a little deeper, and boy, do I have news for you!! Here’s why we need to give those simple little carrots on our plates some more credit!

Antioxidants: just like we hear about the innumerable benefits from sipping of green tea all day long, carrots also contain a large amount of disease fighters including the super star beta carotene. This substance has been linked to the prevention of heart disease, proven effective in lowering cholesterol levels in the body and has even been shown to ward off certain kinds of cancer.

Improves eyesight: no, it’s not just an old wives’ tale girls and boys. Munching on carrots regularly, which happen to be rich in vitamin A, has shown to benefit the vision.

Anti-aging: another plus from eating something containing those antioxidants, which also prevent cell degeneration. Translation? You get to keep your youthful looks longer!

 Skin saver: Making a tasty mix of carrot juice and drinking it with your breakfast in the morning is also a great way to keep your skin looking fresh and acne-free. Added bonus? It’s also keeps your hair and nails looking strong and healthy!

"Go for the Green!"

You know how your mom always told you to eat your vegetables? Yet again, it turns out that she was bang, smack right on target about what was good for you. Not only in your childhood, but throughout your life, it’s a smart idea to keep vegetables a part of your daily diet.

And just like all other things, not all vegetables are created equal. Indeed, some of these guys are the equivalent of an S-class Mercedes when compared to other Santros around. This brings us to the best, most high-grade green guy you can put on your plate this winter season: the broccoli.

Looking like its cousin the cauliflower, except with beautiful dark green florets, the broccoli is packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, and fiber. In short, it’s designed to protect the body fight all kinds of disease (including cancer) and also helps to promote strong bones and teeth. Having a high concentration of vitamin C means this green friend of ours also helps the body to absorb iron, prevents the development of cataracts, and also eases the effects of the common winter cold (no more sniffly, sneezy Monday mornings yay!). Being a rich source of fiber, broccoli is also great for digestion, helping to lower levels of cholesterol, and makes a delicious addition to your salad bowl too! 

You can pick from simple methods of preparation to enjoy this green gift from Mother Nature:  steam it, sauté it, stir-fry it, bake it, or just toss it in a salad and enjoy! Bonus tip: broccoli tastes fantastic when seasoned with just a little garlic, salt, and olive oil so try it with any cooking method.

Happy eating :)

"Learn your ABC's"

healthorg.com

Ok so we all know that deep friend pakoras, double-cheese burgers with fries on the side, and double friend eggs are not necessarily the way to eat yourself to good health.


Instead, the emphasis of almost every sane diet (yes, I am NOT a believer in crazy “5 walnuts for lunch” and “Cabbage soup for a week” diets working in the long run!) is on fresh foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as proteins and carbohydrates. So we know where to get all our amazing, wonderful, super healthy vitamins from but we still don’t really know why we need them! Here’s the short version of a loooooong list of the greatest reasons to keep going back for more of these goodies in your daily diets!



Vitamin A – helps in the healthy formation of bones, skin and teeth.

Vitamin B2 - Promotes growth and helps in reproduction. Helps to get healthy hair,skin, nails, and works to burn carbohydrates, fat and protein

Vitamin B3 - very effective in lowering LDL or “bad cholesterol” and raising HDL also called “good cholesterol”, it also promotes a healthy digestive system, increases blood circulation, reduces high blood pressure, also is a possible cancer inhibitor

Vitamin B5 - Helps in normal growth and development.

Vitamin B6 - Works to metabolize protein and helps the functioning of the nervous system.

Vitamin B12 - Essential for blood formation and a healthy nervous system.

Vitamin C – Is a powerful antioxidant which may protect against certain types of cancers, cataracts and heart disease. Also fights infection and helps the body heal faster. Vitamin B1 – Helps in digestion of carbohydrates, key for the normal functioning of nerve tissue, muscles and heart.
Vitamin D – helps in the absorption and use of calcium, builds bone mass and prevents boss loss, strengthens the nervous system, protects against muscle weakness.

Vitamin E – promotes healthy skin, helps to keep a good circulatory function, is a strong anti-oxidant, and strengthens the immune system.

Vitamin K – helps in the clotting of blood and prevents excessive bleeding. Also helps in the absorption of calcium in the body.

"Vital Vitamins: Know Your Foods"

myhealthaid.files.wordpress.com

No matter what background, ethnicity, religion, caste or creed, as kids we all grew up hearing the same phrases “finish up all your vegetables!” “Why? Because its good for you, that’s why!” and “I want to see that plate empty!” Back then all we knew was that ice-cream, cookies, and chocolate cake were always welcome and vegetables, fruit, and milk products ummmmm, not so much!


But today, in the midst of the vegan diet craze, liquid detox, and superfood mania, we are all in need of some simple explanation as to where exactly we can find these nutrients.

Vitamins are called “essential compounds” and cannot be made by our own bodies, so must come from diet. They can be either fat-soluble (vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K) or water-soluble (vitamin B and vitamin C). Ideally, you should be getting enough vitamins from eating a balanced diet, which should include at least 5 portions of fruits and veggies a day, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds, fish and poultry. By steaming, pressure cooking, or microwaving your food you are also preserving more vitamins than if you were to boil it.

So here is an easy way to help you keep that plate loaded with all the right stuff!

Vitamin A – Find it in yellow orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, papaya, mango, sweet potato, cantaloupe and spinach.

Vitamin B1 – Find it in sunflower seeds, whole grains, seafood, beans,
Vitamin B2 - Find it in yoghurt, milk, leafy vegetables, fruits, almonds, chicken
Vitamin B3 - Find it in peanut butter, chicken breast, beans
Vitamin B5 - Find it in egg, fish, grains, meat, peas, peanuts
Vitamin B6 - Find it in bananas, baked potatoes, chicken, oats, chick peas, peanuts
Vitamin B12 - Find it in dairy products, eggs, fish

Vitamin C – Find it in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, sweet limes, guava, gooseberry, strawberries, melons, broccoli, red capsicum and green capsicum

Vitamin D – Find it in fatty fish, egg yolk, fortified milk, and exposure to direct sunlight (five to ten minutes, 3-4 times a week)

Vitamin E –Find it in vegetable oils, broccoli, peanuts, whole grains, sunflower seeds, mayonnaise, sweet potato

Vitamin K – Find it in dark green leafy vegetables, potato, beetroot, fruits, dairy products, eggs, seeds, meats