Digestive Enzymes
Enzymes involved in the breakdown of food and the extraction of nutrients are so crucial in the prevention of disease.Knowing which foods you should include in your families diet is a must for optimal growth in young children and parents need to be active in the knowledge and preparation of these foods and more importantly its a no brained that if parents themselves are educated about high nutrition and which whole food provides which nutrients it only makes perfect sense that children will grow up with a sense of knowing which foods to choose for the purpose of good health.
Minerals, vitamins, flavanoids, digestive enzymes...these are what boost the immune system in the fight against digestive disorder and many other diseases including cancers and beginning with colon cancer. Didn't you ever hear that it all begins in the gut? Let's take a look at digestive enzymes for l
lactose intolerance, gluten inflammation and allergies.
Digestive enzymes are biological catalysts produced by the pancreas, and play an important role in the chemical process of food digestion.
Digestive enzymes break down the complex molecules of foods (proteins, lipids, sugars) into simpler, smaller molecules (amino acids, fatty acids, glucose), which can then be absorbed without any problem by the body. Digestive enzymes can be proteolytic (degrading protein), and lipolytic , based on how the molecules are fragmented.
Proteolytic enzymes break down food proteins, transforming them into amino acids, to ensure absorption and use in the body. If we suffer from a lack of proteolytic enzymes, the unused proteins reach the colon where they go through a process of decadence and can cause digestive problems (eg bloating, gas formation, diarrhea).
Pancreatin is obtained from the pork pancreas. It includes the three pancreatic enzymes (amylase, lipase, protease).
Pancreatin helps to dissolve fat and excreta, which are formed and deposited in the body during incomplete digestion. Thus, she participates in the cleansing of the body.
Papain is an enzyme derived from the tropical papaya plant, which is responsible for protein fragmentation into amino acids and oligopeptides. Papain is used in the case of celiac disease and chronic diarrhea. It has a soothing effect on the lining of the stomach, therefore by using it, we can obtain very good results in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system, for example in the treatment of stomach ulcer , edema, swelling and in the case of inflammation. Papain has similar characteristics to pepsin and chymotrypsin enzymes but optimally cleaves in the case of a neutral pH value.
Trypsin is a proteolytic digestive enzyme responsible for the process of fragmentation and protein absorption in the intestine. In an absorbed form, it has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Trypsin is also produced by the pancreas. It is able to dissolve the protein layer on the surface of the damaged cells of the body. It takes its active form in the intestine. Its cleavage occurs optimally in a slightly alkaline environment, and contributes to the process of digestion and purification of the entire body. It has an excellent antioxidant effect.
Chymotrypsin is a proteolytic digestive enzyme with properties similar to those of trypsin, they differ only in the place of fragmentation of the protein. Chymotrypsin fragments the peptide bond of phenylalanine in the place of origin of the tryptophan or tyrosine amino acids. Trypsin breaks down the peptide bond from the carboxyl group of arginine and amine lysine. Chymotrypsin is produced by the pancreas, as is the case of trypsin. For her operation she needs trypsin.
Bromelainis a proteolytic enzyme, which is obtained from pineapple fruit. It supports fragmentation of proteins. With this quality, it is useful for treating gastrointestinal disorders, such as heartburn, bloating, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea. It has an excellent coagulation effect, it can be used in the prevention and treatment of thrombosis, and thromboptilididis. Bromelain prevents the production of substances causing swelling, and pain caused by arthritis. With its anti-inflammatory effect, it is used in the healing and treatment of inflammations of the origin of rheumatic arthritis, and wounds of the muscular tissue. Bromelain is an important part of foods that constitute diets,
Lipase is a lipotic enzyme, which breaks down fats into glycerin and fatty acids, which cross the intestinal wall and end up in the blood and liver, where they are broken down later. Pancreatic lipase is produced by the pancreas, it is the main lipolytic enzyme of the human body. Lipase controls the amount of fat in the body. Lipases, amylases and proteases help to better digest food and make more complete the activity of digestive enzymes.
Cellulase enzyme is the enzyme that breaks down plant fibers into glucose at a pH value of 3-7.
The legumase is the enzyme ensuring fragmentation of leguminous in the body.
The lactase is the digestive enzyme which fragments the milk sugar (lactose) into simple sugars, glucose and galactose on a pH 4-8.
Enzymes are not interchangeable because all enzymes have the specific effect for a single food. Enzymes are heat sensitive, can be destroyed by heat, and lose their value in an environment where the pH value is insufficient. For most enzymes, the appropriate pH value is between 6.00 and 8.00.
Superfoods For Nutrition and Wellness
Top 10 Healthiest Super Foods You Need to Know for Extreme Health and Longevity
These are certainly some of the best foods for your health that you can eat ... full of antioxidants, full of vitamins, minerals and good fats, they help repair the damage we do every day with diets, environmental stressors, chemical additives and physical stress. If you can include a few servings of these foods in your weekly diet, you will add a lot to your health, and prevent many diseases.
The list includes some superstars you already know and new discoveries such as:
Goji berries
Acai berries
Meat and salmon Bios
Almonds, nuts and others
The lawyers
Garlic, onions, leeks and shallots
Tomatoes
Cabbage
Raw dairy products, cheese and butter
Fermented foods
Super foods # 1. Goji berries - Goji berries have long played an important rolein Chinese medicine, they are supposed to
improve the function of the immune system, improve eyesight, protect the liver, stimulate sperm production and improve circulation among other things. They can be eaten raw, eaten as juice or wine, infused in herbal tea, or prepared as a dye.
The polysaccharides of Goji berries show antioxidant activity in vitro. However, as a source of dietary fiber, polysaccharides would provide products from bacterial fermentation in the colon, such as for example several short chains of fatty acids and butyric acid which can provide health benefits.
Goji berries also contain zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea where antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions are produced.
Several published studies, mainly from China, have also reported potential medicinal benefits of Lycium barbarum, mainly due to its antioxidant properties, including potential benefits against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, vision-related diseases (such as degeneration age-related macular and glaucoma with neuroprotective properties, or as an anti-cancer agent and immunomodulators Without a doubt, Goji berries are one of the best foods rich in antioxidants that you can eat.
Here's another article with some of the incredible benefits of Goji berries.
Super foods # 2 . Acai berries - This fruit is small, round, purple-black and about 2.5 cm in diameter. It is similar in appearance and size to a grape.
Acai berries are particularly rich in fatty acids, with an oily feel to the touch. They contain high levels of oleic monounsaturated fatty acid. They are also rich in palmitic acid and linoleic omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Β-sitosterol (beta-sitosterol) is a phytosterol that competes with dietary cholesterol for absorption and can therefore reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, it is also exceptionally rich.
A recent study found 19 amino acids, with particularly high contents of aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The dense pigmentation of Acai berry has led to several experimental studies of its anthocyanins, a group of polyphenols that give deep color to berries and other fruits, and are rich in antioxidant values.
Twelve other compound flavonoids were further found, including homoorientin, orientine, taxifolin deoxyhexose, isovitexin and scoparin, as well as several unknown flavonoids. Proanthocyanidins, another group of polyphenolic compounds of high antioxidant value are present, with a profile similar to that of blueberries.
A number of studies have measured the antioxidant strength of acai berries. A recent report on the standardized oxygen capacity of radical absorbance or ORAC analysis on a freeze-dried acai berry powder has shown that this powder contains a high antioxidant effect against peroxyl radicals. This is about 10 times more than blueberries or cranberries.
Only 10% of the high antioxidant effects of acai berry could be explained by their anthocyanin content, indicating that other polyphenols contribute even more to antioxidant activity.
Acai berries contain a greater amount of "slow-acting" antioxidants, suggesting a more sustained antioxidant effect than "fast acting" components.
Acai berries contain polyphenolics that could reduce the proliferation of HL-60 leukemia cells in vitro. Acai berries contain properties similar to those of red wine in controlling the fats in the blood of the Mediterranean population's diets. In addition, Acai berries contain anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit COX 1 and 2 enzymes, making it effective against arthritis, allergies and other inflammatory diseases.
Please note : Beware, recently, unscrupulous traders are currently trying to fool you by saying that Acai pills are some kind of "miracle weight loss cure" ... They even make fake blogs to about people supposed to lose ridiculous amounts of weight simply by taking an acai pill daily (and then they try to sell you those supplements) ... These are FALSE stories, and you must realize that although Acai berry is a very healthy antioxidant food , it`s NOT a miracle weight loss cure !
Super food # 3 . Fermented foods - Lacto-fermented foods have been around for a very long time. These are common foods of Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Central and North European cuisine, they have been used to enhance the flavor of foods, create and help food for greater preservation. They are delicious and nutritious, traditional and essential to our health.
Fermentation allows bacteria, yeasts and molds to "pre-digest" and thus degrade carbohydrates, fats and proteins to create probiotics that form bacteria in the digestive tract. This helps keep our immune system strong and supports overall digestive health.
Keep your digestive flora healthy and strong by regularly eating fermented foods.
Fermented foods are foods rich in living enzymes, micro-organisms. These foods allow beneficial microflora to "colonize" the intestines. This "inner ecosystem" helps support our health and fight infection. A healthy gastrointestinal tract is essential for a strong immune system. Diets rich in fermented foods, as well as fruits and vegetables are the best for us to maintain a strong and healthy body.
Fermented foods help digest food, promote healthy flora in the digestive tract, produce beneficial enzymes, provide better nutrition and allow the body to absorb vitamins (especially C and B12), minerals and omega -3 more effectively from foods. They regulate the level of acidity in the digestive tract and act as antioxidants. Fermented foods contain isothiocyanates found in cruciferous vegetables to combat and prevent cancer.
Many fermented foods on the market today are not real fermented foods because they are created to maximize profits and shelf life rather than health. They are not so beneficial. It is important that we eat foods that are fermented with "active" cultures.
Pasteurization destroys living bacteria, so look for fresh unpasteurized and fermented foods (in the refrigerated grocery section). Since fermentation is a way to keep enzymes alive, it goes against the theory that you have to use pasteurized (or dead) milk, but you can make pasteurized milk yogurt and kefir. it will not be as solid and beneficial.
Fermented foods are: acidophilic milk, beer, blue cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, vegetables grown, kefir, kimchi, kombucha, pickled artichokes, miso, olives, pickles , sauerkraut, soy sauce, tea, tempeh, umeboshi plums, vinegar, yoghurt.
Super foods # 4 . Meat and Salmon Bios - Organic beef and wild caught salmon have more beta-carotene, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids than cattle fed conventional strategies.
85 grams of ground beef fed conventional foods yields about 41 micrograms of beta-carotene and a typical steak of 36 micrograms. On the other hand, beef fattened mainly with grass contains almost twice as much beta-carotene, 87 micrograms in 85 grams of ground beef and 64 micrograms in a steak.
Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for normal vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, and cell differentiation.
In addition, organic meats are much higher in vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin with potent antioxidant activity. Cattle grass contains about 3 times more vitamin E per serving, much more than grain-fed cattle.
The main factor in wild fish and organic meats is the fat content and the fat ratios. Both have significantly elevated levels of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which has powerful positive effects on health.
Feed from grazing animals fed exclusively on grass, as well as wild salmon that feed on their natural diet, significantly changes the fatty acid composition. Cattle fed primarily on grass contain more than 60% omega-3 as well as a more favorable omega-6 / omega-3 ratio. Same thing for salmon raised with a natural diet. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent heart disease and arthritis. Essential fatty acids are also highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly important for cognitive and behavioral function.
Grass-fed ruminant meat and milk is the richest known source of another type of good fat called "conjugated linoleic acid" or CLA. When ruminants are raised only on pastures, their milk and meat contain five times more CLA than products derived from animals fed conventional foods.
CLA could be one of our most powerful defenses against cancer. Also, natural CLA from organic meat and milk has been shown in studies to help build muscle and increase fat loss.
Super foods # 5 . Organic butter and raw milk cheeses - Few people are aware that raw milk from grass-fed cows was actually used as medicine in the early part of the last century. That's right. Directly from the udders of the cow, the "stem cells" of food have been used as medicine to treat and cure some serious chronic diseases. Since the time of Hippocrates until after the Second World War, this "white blood" has nourished and cured countless people.
Raw milk, cheeses and butter from grass-fed cows are complete and well-balanced foods. You could live exclusively from these products if you had to do it. Raw dairy products contain a host of healthy substances, including: amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats such as CLA.
Amino acids are building blocks for proteins. Depending on the demand, we need about 20-22 of them. Raw dairy products all contain these amino acids. About 80% of milk proteins are caseins that are reasonably heat stable, but easy to digest. The remaining 20% fall into the class of whey proteins, many of which have significant physiological effects (bioactivity). They are also easy to digest, but are very sensitive to heat and have losses during the pasteurization process, including key enzymes and enzyme inhibitors, immunoglobulins, binding proteins and vitamins as well as several growth factors.
Lactoferrin, an iron-related protein, has many beneficial properties, including (as you might guess) better absorption and assimilation of iron, anti-cancer and anti-microbial properties against several species of bacteria that cause tooth decay. Recent studies also reveal that it also has potent antiviral properties.
Two other players in the arsenal of raw milk protein / enzyme antibiotics are lysozyme and lactoperoxidase. Lysozyme can actually break down the cell walls of some unwanted bacteria, while lactoperoxidases with other substances also help knock out unwanted microbes. Immunoglobulins provide resistance to many viruses, bacteria and bacterial toxins and can help reduce the severity of asthma symptoms.
Two-thirds of the milk fat is saturated. Are saturated fats good or bad for you? Saturated fats play a number of key roles in our body: from the building of cell membranes and key hormones to provide energy storage and cushioning of delicate organs to serve as a vehicle for important fat-soluble vitamins.
All fats force the lining of the stomach to secrete a hormone (cholecystokinin or CCK), which, aside from stimulating the production and secretion of digestive enzymes, signals the brain that we have eaten enough. With this trigger factor removed, non-fat dairy products and other fat-free foods can potentially contribute to overeating. Dairy products full of fat are the ONLY healthy dairy products ... NOT pasteurized, fat-free dairy products that are essentially nutrients destroyed by their nutrients.
CLA abbreviation of abundant conjugated linoleic acid in milk of grass-fed cows is highly studied and contains omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids with promising health benefits. CLA has many potential benefits: it increases metabolic rate, helps eliminate abdominal fat, stimulates muscle growth, reduces insulin resistance, strengthens the immune system and reduces food allergic reactions. Raw dairy products contain 3-5 times more than dairy products fed on grain.
Minerals or other nutrients should be evaluated with a range rather than specific amounts, as individual needs vary. Raw milk contains a wide selection of available vitamins and minerals, from familiar calcium and phosphorus, to vitamins A and D, to trace minerals. Organic raw dairy products also contain a missing nutrient called "K2", which is extremely helpful in helping the body absorb calcium and rebuild bones, repair cavities and keep blood vessels clean.
The 60 enzymes (the best known) intact and functional in raw milk have an extraordinary range of tasks to accomplish, each one for a key task or another. The most significant benefits of food enzymes are to unburden the body of many burdens.
Amylase, bacteria produced in lactase, lipase and phosphatase in raw milk, decomposition of starch, lactose compounds, fats (triglycerides) and phosphate make milk more digestible by releasing minerals. essential. Other enzymes such as catalase, lysozyme and lactoperoxidase help protect the milk from bacterial infection, making it safer to drink.
Raw dairy products contain about 3 mg of cholesterol per gram, which is a decent amount. Our body produces most of what we need, this amount fluctuates with what we receive from our food. Cholesterol is a protective / repairing substance, a clogging steroid (often mistaken for fats) that our body uses as a form of waterproofing and as a building block for a number of key hormones.
It is natural, normal and essential to find in our brain, liver, nerves, blood, bile and in every cell membrane. Unfortunately, pasteurization is a botched agricultural practice with sick cows. You will find it difficult to find raw milk in most areas, but you can certainly find some in an agricultural or local cooperative.
Super foods # 6 . Avocados - Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that can help lower cholesterol. In a study of people with moderately elevated cholesterol, individuals who ate a diet rich in avocados clearly showed improvements in their health. After seven days with a diet including avocados, they found a significant decrease in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, with an 11% increase in HDL cholesterol good for health.
Avocados are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Adequate potassium intake can help guard against circulatory diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke.
A portion of avocado contains 23% of the daily value of folate, a nutrient important for heart health. One study found that people who consume a diet rich in folate have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke than those who do not consume as much of this essential nutrient.
Not only are avocados a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid that has recently been shown to offer significant protection against breast cancer, but they are also a highly concentrated dietary source of carotenoid lutein, also contain measurable amounts of bound carotenoids (zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene) as well as significant amounts of tocopherols (vitamin E).
In a laboratory study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, an avocado extract containing these carotenoids and tocopherols inhibited the growth of androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.
Adding a few slices of avocado in your green salad or mixing chopped avocados in your favorite salsa will not only add a rich, creamy flavor, but will also dramatically increase your body's ability to absorb the carotenoids good for the health that these vegetables contain.
Avocados contain a wide variety of nutrients: Vitamins, minerals, as well as monounsaturated fatty acids good for heart health, too, eating a little avocado with fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids is a great way to improve your body's ability to absorb carotenoids while receiving other nutritional and taste benefits.
Oral cancer is even more likely to cause death than breast, skin or cervix, with a mortality rate of about 50% due to late detection. Avocados can offer a delicious food strategy for the prevention of oral cancer.
Phytonutrients are present in the Hass avocado, the most readily available variety, which increases the amount of free radicals (reactive oxygen species) in pre-cancerous and cancerous oral human cells that lead to their death but do not cause any damage to normal cells. Hass avocados can also inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. Once analyzed, Hass avocados have been shown to contain the highest lutein content among commonly consumed fruits, as well as measurable amounts of related carotenoids (zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene).
Super foods # 7 . Almonds, walnuts, pecans, and other nuts - Is a high-fat diet good for your health? You speak !
Almonds and walnuts are at the top of the nutrition pyramid, but other nuts are also good for health, including pistachios , pecans and cashews. Nuts are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of healthy fats found in olive oil, which are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. Five major human epidemiological studies, including the Nurses Health Study, the Iowa Health Study, the Adventist Health Study and the Health Study Physicians, all found that nut consumption is linked to a lower risk of disease heart.
Researchers who studied the Nurses Health Study's data estimated that replacing nuts with an equivalent amount of carbohydrate in an average diet resulted in a 30% reduction in the risk of heart disease.
A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition indicates that when foods known to lower cholesterol like almonds are combined in a healthy way to eat, the beneficial effects are cumulative. In this study of 12 patients with high levels of LDL cholesterol, a diet containing almonds and other nuts, plant sterols (also in nuts) and soluble fiber (in large amounts in beans, oats, pears ) demonstrated reduced blood levels of all LDL fractions including small, dense LDL (the type that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease) with a maximal decrease observed after only 2 weeks.
In addition to their cholesterol-lowering effects , the ability of nuts to reduce the risk of heart disease may also be due in part to the antioxidant action of vitamin E that they contain, as well as the lowering of the effect of LDL monounsaturated fatty acids. In addition to healthy fats and vitamin E, a handful of almonds contains nearly 99 mg of magnesium (this is 24.7% of the daily value of this important mineral), plus 257 mg of potassium.
Magnesium is a natural blocker of calcium channels. When there is enough magnesium, the veins and arteries breathe a sigh of relief and relaxation, which decreases resistance and improves circulation of blood, oxygen and nutrients in the body. Studies show that a magnesium deficiency is not only associated with a heart attack, but that immediately after a heart attack, the lack of sufficient magnesium promotes a radical injury to the heart.
Potassium is an important electrolyte involved in nerve transmission and contraction of all muscles including the heart, it is another mineral that is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Nuts help your cardiovascular health by providing 257 mg of potassium and only 0.3 mg of sodium, making it a particularly good choice in protecting against high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
Nuts, pecans and chestnuts have the highest antioxidant content among nuts, walnuts are ahead of others in antioxidant content. Peanuts (although technically a legume) also contribute significantly to our dietary intake of antioxidants.
Even more impressive are the results of a study of obvious evidence linking nuts and less significant risks of coronary heart disease. Subjects consuming nuts at least 4 times a week showed a 37% reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who have never or rarely eaten nuts. Each additional portion of nuts each week was associated with an average risk of 8.3% reduction in coronary heart disease.
Super foods # 8 . Cabbages - Cabbages are one of the most complete and nutritionally beneficial foods. Theirnutritional value was discovered by the Chinese thousands of years ago. Recently, in the United States, many scientific studies suggest the importance of cabbage in a healthy diet.
For example, sprouted mung beans have the carbohydrate content of a melon, the vitamin A of a lemon, the thiamine of a avocado, the riboflavin of a dried apple, the niacin of a banana, and ascorbic acid of a blueberry. Other studies have shown that cabbage contains powerful antioxidants and can help prevent certain types of cancer.
Cabbages are the most reliable source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and many B vitamins (such as folic acid) all year round. The germination of seeds, grains and legumes greatly increases their content of these vitamins. For example, the vitamin A content (in calories) of sprouted mung beans is two and a half times higher than dry beans, and some seeds contain over eight times more vitamin A after sprouting.
Cabbage preserves the enzymes in our body, which is extremely important. How are they doing this? Sprouted beans, cereals, nuts and seeds are very easy to digest. Germination essentially prediggers our food by breaking down concentrated starch into simple carbohydrates and proteins into free amino acids so that our own enzymes do not have to work so hard. Germination also suppresses anti-nutrients such as enzyme inhibitors, making cabbage even easier to digest by sparing other enzymes.
Phytates are other anti-nutrients that prevent some people from enjoying cereals like wheat. Many people who can not eat non-sprouted wheat find that they can eat all the sprouted wheat they want without any problem.
Almost all vegetables or cereals can be eaten from sprouted seeds. Broccoli, canola, cauliflower, cabbage and mustard greens are rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes and chlorophyll. In a recent study, 30 gr of broccoli sprouts had the same anti-cancer potency as over 300 gr of adult broccoli.
Super foods # 9 . Tomatoes - Tomatoes are a rich source of many nutrients. They are well known for their high vitamin C content, but also contain a significant amount of vitamin A, group B vitamins including niacin and riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Tomatoes are also a good source of chromium, folic acid and fiber.
In recent years, a particular nutrient has been found in abundance in the tomato, lycopene, which has made headlines for its many fighting abilities of the disease. Lycopene is well known as an anticancer agent for the prostate, putting tomatoes at the top of the list of healthy foods for men.
Lycopene is not only important for men. It is also a powerful antioxidant and as such helps protect the cells of our body from damage. Studies in humans have shown that lycopene is protective against a variety of cancers including of course that of the prostate, but also colorectal, breast, lung, endometrium, pancreas, bladder, cancer collar and skin.
Lycopene also helps prevent heart disease and can slow the development of cataracts and macular degeneration, an age-related vision problem that can lead to blindness.
Vitamin B6, niacin, potassium and folic acid found in abundance in tomatoes are powerful protectors against heart disease. Niacin can lower high cholesterol and potassium can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Vitamin B6 and folate are also working to convert homocysteine in our body into harmless molecules. High levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Fiber in tomatoes also helps lower cholesterol, helps prevent colon cancer and helps keep blood sugar low. Tomatoes are a source of riboflavin, which has been shown to be helpful to migraine sufferers by reducing the frequency of their headaches.
A helpful note about tomato nutrients is that lycopene is actually more available to the body when tomatoes are cooked, cooked or canned tomatoes are just as nutritious to you as raw tomatoes. The fact is that tomatoes are definitely a nutrient-rich fruit / vegetable that you can enjoy as often as possible.
Super foods # 10. Garlic, onion, leeks, shallots - In a study of centenarians (people living over 100 years of age), it was found that high consumption of garlic and onion was one of the factors that could have partial implications in their longevity. Garlic and onions are both among the best sources of powerful unique antioxidants.
The health benefits and medicinal properties of garlic have been known for a long time. Garlic has long been considered a "wonder drug" herbal, with a reputation for preventing everything from colds and flu to plague! It has been widely used in herbal medicine. Raw garlic is used by some to treat the symptoms of acne and colds, there is also evidence that this can help manage high cholesterol levels. It can even be effective as a natural repellent against mosquitoes.
The strong tasting of a clove of garlic contains more sulfur and therefore more medicinal value. Some people prefer to take garlic supplements. These pills and capsules have the advantage of avoiding bad breath.
Modern science has shown that garlic is a potent antibiotic, albeit a broad spectrum rather than a targeted one. The body does not seem to build resistance to garlic, so its positive health benefits continue over time.
Studies have shown that garlic can have a powerful antioxidant effect. Raw garlic is very strong, so eating too much can cause problems, for example irritation or even damage to the digestive tract.
There are two main medical ingredients that produce the health benefits of garlic: allicin and diallyl sulfides.
Allicin is the most potent drug compound derived from garlic and provides the greatest health benefits.
It is produced when the garlic is chopped or crushed. The finer the chopping and the intensive crushing, the more allicin has important medicinal effects.
In addition to having antibiotic properties, allicin is an excellent anti-fungal that has been used to treat skin infections such as athlete's foot.
