Scientists have recently discovered that the foods we eat especially fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals which is a natural occurring chemical. Phytochemicals are substances that have properties that can assist in disease prevention and cure. There have been thousands of these chemicals found in the foods that we eat, and it has been discovered that a single serving of fruits and vegetables can contain as many as one hundred different phytochemicals. A well known phytochemical are the antioxidant's, which protect our cells from damage incurred from toxic substances and free radicals,(which is a by-product produced by our bodies when oxygen is converted into energy. Free radicals can cause havoc to the cells in our body, which can then lead to disease. Antioxidant's can help protect the body from oxidation and decrease the risk of developing many of our common aliments.
Did you know that with many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat, you can tell which of the main phytochemicals they contain by the color? Fruits and vegetables that are red in color, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon contain lycopene. Green vegetables such as broccoli, kale and cabbage contain indoles. Allicin can be found in onions, garlic and chives. Orange colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupes and mangoes contain beta carotene. Yellow fruits and vegetables like oranges, pineapples and peaches contain beta cryptothanxin. Fruits and vegetables that are purple in color like blueberries, eggplant and grapes contain anthocyanins.
There are many healing properties found in vegetables like broccoli which has cancer fibre, beta carotene and vitamin C, plus folic acid (which helps prevent neural tube birth defects), bone building calcium and boron. Cabbage which contains indoles may be the anti cancer key to prevent breast cancer by decreasing the activity of the chemical estradiol, which is a precursor to the hormone estrogen. (estrogen fuels the growth of certain tumors). Carrots which are very high in beta carotene will help reduce the chance of having a stroke, and in recent studies it has shown to reduce the chance of getting lung cancer in ex smokers. Pumpkin which is also high in beta carotene and with butternut and hubbard are rich in fibre too. Spinach not just for popeye anymore is a power plant of antioxidant's and has virtually every nutrient you can think of, can protect against cervical dysplasia, a condition that precedes cervical cancer. Another benefit that was found, was women who ate spinach daily were 43 percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate spinach once a month or less.
There are many healing properties found in fruits too, like apricots high in the antioxidant's beta carotene and vitamin C and are also full of fibre. Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6 also contains potassium. Grapes are a great source of boron, which is a mineral that can ward off osteoporosis, and the juice of the red grape also contains reservatrol, a chemical that could prevent heart disease. Pears which are an amazing source of fibre, can lessen the risk of developing polyps in the colon, which may be a predecessor to cancer. Here is one for you smokers strawberries which has more fibre and vitamin C then most fruits even oranges, contains ellagic acid, a natural cancer fighting chemical. It was found that this compound is a potent inhibitor of such carcinogens as tobacco smoke and nitrosamines.
There are many other fruits and vegetables that are very beneficial to your health so when your mom said eat your veggies and you heard the old saying a apple a day keeps the doctor away, there was some truth to that. Many of the foods we eat have healing properties in them, the thing is eating a well balanced diet combined with exercise, can help us live a long and healthy life.
For more health tips go to Health Tips NaturallyDid you know that with many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat, you can tell which of the main phytochemicals they contain by the color? Fruits and vegetables that are red in color, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon contain lycopene. Green vegetables such as broccoli, kale and cabbage contain indoles. Allicin can be found in onions, garlic and chives. Orange colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupes and mangoes contain beta carotene. Yellow fruits and vegetables like oranges, pineapples and peaches contain beta cryptothanxin. Fruits and vegetables that are purple in color like blueberries, eggplant and grapes contain anthocyanins.
There are many healing properties found in vegetables like broccoli which has cancer fibre, beta carotene and vitamin C, plus folic acid (which helps prevent neural tube birth defects), bone building calcium and boron. Cabbage which contains indoles may be the anti cancer key to prevent breast cancer by decreasing the activity of the chemical estradiol, which is a precursor to the hormone estrogen. (estrogen fuels the growth of certain tumors). Carrots which are very high in beta carotene will help reduce the chance of having a stroke, and in recent studies it has shown to reduce the chance of getting lung cancer in ex smokers. Pumpkin which is also high in beta carotene and with butternut and hubbard are rich in fibre too. Spinach not just for popeye anymore is a power plant of antioxidant's and has virtually every nutrient you can think of, can protect against cervical dysplasia, a condition that precedes cervical cancer. Another benefit that was found, was women who ate spinach daily were 43 percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate spinach once a month or less.
There are many healing properties found in fruits too, like apricots high in the antioxidant's beta carotene and vitamin C and are also full of fibre. Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6 also contains potassium. Grapes are a great source of boron, which is a mineral that can ward off osteoporosis, and the juice of the red grape also contains reservatrol, a chemical that could prevent heart disease. Pears which are an amazing source of fibre, can lessen the risk of developing polyps in the colon, which may be a predecessor to cancer. Here is one for you smokers strawberries which has more fibre and vitamin C then most fruits even oranges, contains ellagic acid, a natural cancer fighting chemical. It was found that this compound is a potent inhibitor of such carcinogens as tobacco smoke and nitrosamines.
There are many other fruits and vegetables that are very beneficial to your health so when your mom said eat your veggies and you heard the old saying a apple a day keeps the doctor away, there was some truth to that. Many of the foods we eat have healing properties in them, the thing is eating a well balanced diet combined with exercise, can help us live a long and healthy life.
