Health Benefits of Berries

They may be little, but boysenberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries are big on antioxidants.

The antioxidants in berries can help your body fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals that can lead to illness. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help improve your health, protect your skin and hair, and prevent certain diseases. All fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, but nutrient-rich berries are some of the absolute best sources.
There are several powerful antioxidants that appear in berries, including anthocyanins, quercetin, and vitamin C. Anthocyanins give berries their vibrant color, reduce inflammation, and may help prevent and manage arthritis. Anthocyanins work together with quercetin to help slow age-related memory-loss. Quercetin can also decrease the inflammatory effects of chemicals in the synovial fluid of the joints for people with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin C is another strong antioxidant found in berries. It is largely responsible for the health of collagen, which helps maintain cartilage stores and aids in joint flexibility. Eating vitamin C–rich berries will contribute to radiant skin and healthy hair, and may reduce the risk of arthritis, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
In addition to antioxidants, berries are “juicy foods,” which means they contain mostly water. Juicy foods are great for losing weight because they fill you up quickly, since their high water content bumps up the volume while driving down the calories. Berries also contain fiber and folate. Fiber aids in weight loss and helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Folate may protect against cardiovascular disease and age-related memory loss, and since folate contributes to the production of serotonin, it may also help ward off depression and improve your mood. IBS sufferers take note: Some people with IBS experience discomfort after eating berries.
Remember, if you can’t find fresh berries, frozen (unsweetened) berries are a good substitute during the off-season months — and just as nutritious!
The best berries are blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, boysenberries, and cranberries. Find out more fruit.

Source from http://www.joybauer.com

Comments

Dairy: How Food Affects Health

Dairy: How Food Affects Health Dairy products are a great source of calcium and protein, but if you’re consuming full-fat dairy you may be increasing your risk of some conditions. Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and other calcium-rich foods boost bone health and help in the prevention and management of osteoporosis . While dairy is most well-known for its calcium content, it also contains potassium, which helps increase bone formation and density, improves calcium balance, and reduces bone resorption by neutralizing metabolic acids. Milk is fortified with vitamin D, which helps the body absorb and process calcium. In addition to calcium and potassium, dairy contains other nutrients, such as riboflavin, a B vitamin shown to be helpful in the prevention of cataracts; zinc, a mineral involved in maintaining healthy skin and preventing and treating macular degeneration; and vitamin B12, which helps keep hair healthy and may slow memory loss and ease feelings of de

Beat the Heat with These Cooling Foods

Beat the Heat with These Cooling Foods If you’re looking for a way to chill down this summer without cranking the AC down to sub-zero temps or subjecting yourself to ice-cold showers every 15 minutes, I’ve got some tasty solutions. Next time a heat wave hits, cool yourself from the inside out with these frosty eats. Aside from guzzling ice water, munching on the right foods (and seasonings) will give your body a temporary time-out from the stifling temperatures. And while some may seem obvious, I have a few surprises up my sleeve as well. Spicy Foods Wait, what!?! Most people think that because spicy foods, like hot peppers or chiles, make you sweat, they make you feel warmer and even more uncomfortable. This may be true at the beginning of the eating experience, but some researchers postulate that after you’ve eaten (and perspired a bit!), the evaporating sweat allows body heat to escape, giving you an all-over cooling sensation. It’s no wonder, then, that many tropi

Fall Produce With Hidden Healing Powers

Fall Produce With Hidden Healing Powers Figs A culinary delicacy of biblical proportions, figs have been revered by ancient civilizations for centuries. These sweet, delicate produce specialties are one of the best fruit sources of polyphenols, antioxidants that may help prevent LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” from clogging up arteries. For a classic Mediterranean breakfast, top a bowl of tangy plain nonfat Greek yogurt with sliced fresh figs. Or, use dried figs to add natural sweetness to homemade protein bars — the perfect treat for fall hikes. Pumpkin Native Americans first shared the nourishing properties of pumpkin, a staple of the autumn table, with our Pilgrim ancestors hundreds of years ago. From its vitamin-packed flesh to its magnesium-rich seeds, this earthy vegetable is truly a “whole food.” Pumpkin also contains a unique medicinal component called cucurmosin, a compound that is currently being studied for its ability to inhibit tumor growth. To get your fill of t

Movies HD Angkor

Search This Blog