Published by Programme B
“To eat, or not to eat.” That is certainly a question that many people are asking today. There is a revolution gripping our world, and it’s making consumers more conscious of what they buy and eat. On the internet, people can get easy and healthy recipes to cook for dinner, and people have been more aware of what they eat.
One of the formulas to a healthy diet is serving balanced meals. However, meat has never been absent from our dinner tables. There are several types of food that people often see at the supermarket but choose to ignore, not knowing their incredible health benefits. The usual food we forget about is vegetables, and there are many to choose from. However, certain vegetables tower above the rest in nutritional content and health benefits.
Moringa Oleifera
Moringa Oleifera is a plant sometimes called the drumstick tree or the horseradish tree. This plant is native to India but has been known to grow in Asia, Africa, and South America. It has been used for many years because of its medicinal properties and health benefits.
Moringa Oleifera quickens the liver’s repair process against damage caused by anti-tubercular drugs. Consuming this plant combats liver damage caused by eating fatty food and drinking too much alcohol.
Moringa extract has been discovered to have a lot of cancer-fighting properties. It specifically contains niazimicin, which suppresses the development of cancer cells.
It reduces the glucose levels in our blood to prevent diabetes. It also lowers the sugar and protein levels in the urine, which in turn improves the hemoglobin levels and protein content of patients tested.
Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are a staple in many countries around the world. They are rich in fiber, potassium, vitamins, and other nutrients. A 2008 study has shown that an extract from a white-skinned sweet potato improved the insulin sensitivity of people with type 2 diabetes. The fiber in sweet potatoes also helps in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The American Heart Association (AHA) motivates people to eat more potassium-rich food and to avoid food that has too much salt in them. Eating food rich in potassium helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system in adults.
Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that can be abundantly found in sweet potatoes. Antioxidants reduce the risk of different types of cancer, including lung and prostate cancer.
Quinoa
Quinoa is a whole grain that is fast becoming popular because of its many health benefits. The most common types available to consumers are white, red, and black quinoa.
It’s a great source of protein besides soy products and meat. The proteins in quinoa offer a wide variety of amino acids that are essential for muscle development, immune system activity, and other functions. It’s also an excellent source of Lysine, which is an amino acid that is vital for the synthesis of proteins.
The fiber content of quinoa is unmatched by most other grains. It provides 5.18 g of fiber in a 185 g cup serving. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a sufficient amount of fiber can prevent many health conditions like constipation, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Antioxidants help reduce the risk of cancer, and quinoa is a good source of them. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that was found to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, certain cancers, and some eye disorders.
Finding easy and healthy recipes might not be as difficult as people think. With enough knowledge, anyone can create a culinary masterpiece that’s healthy, easy-to-do, and adds years to our lives by keeping us at the peak of our health.