Foods That Heal ( Part 2 )

Monday, February 9, 2009

Foods That Heal ( Part 2 )

Nuts and Seeds:

Almonds
In recent studies it has been demonstrated that almonds significantly reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, which may lessen the risk of heart disease.

Flax Seed
Flaxseeds are rich in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat that is a precursor to the form of omega-3 found in fish oils.

Pine Nuts
Research of the health benefits of pine nuts has shown that pinolenic acid, the active ingredient in pine nuts, may curb your appetite.

Walnuts
There have been numerous clinical studies that suggest that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease.

Grains:

Brown Rice
Brown rice is an excellent source of fiber, which is good for stabilizing blood sugar levels and helping to eliminate food cravings.

Corn
Corn is very good source of vitamin B1 (thiamine). It’s a good source of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamins C and E, folic acid, dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, and the minerals magnesium and phosphorus.

Oats
Oat protein is nearly equivalent in quality to soy protein, which has been shown by the World Health Organization to be the equal to meat, milk, and egg protein.

Quinoa
Quinoa is high in protein, making it an ideal choice for vegetarians or athletes wanting to increase their protein intake.

Pulses:

Chickpeas
Pulses such as chickpeas are an important source of macronutrients, containing almost twice the amount of protein compared to cereal grains.

Lentils
The soluble fiber in lentils also helps eliminate cholesterol, since it binds to it, reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Cayenne Pepper
In recent research there is evidence that capsaicin from cayenne and other chili peppers may inhibit the growth of fat cells by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is found in muscle and other human tissue.

Cinnamon
Research has shown that cinnamon can help stabilize blood sugar levels and increase natural production of insulin.

Cloves
The natural oil of clove can give protection against mosquitoes for 4-5 hours.

Turmeric
Other ongoing research has indicated that curcumin may help in the prevention of heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and the ability to lower cholesterol.

Herbs:

Oregano
The essential oil of Origanum vulgare was one of 5 oils that showed maximum inhibitory activity against Candida albicans after 7 days.

Peppermint
In another study 57 participants were given peppermint oil capsules twice daily for 4 weeks, and 75% of the participants showed a 50% decrease of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.

Thyme
Thyme contains the flavonoids apigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymonin, which have antioxidant activity.

Sea Food:

Salmon
Salmon is low in calories and saturated fat, high in protein, and omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Tuna

Tuna is an excellent source of protein, potassium, selenium, and vitamin B12. It's a very good source of niacin and phosphorus.

Meat:

Grass Fed Organic Beef
Substantial evidence from recent studies shows that lean red meat trimmed of visible fat does not raise total blood cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels.

Article Source:
http://www.elements4health.com/healthy-food.html