Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Worthless foods that are better for you than you think

How many times you had extracted out parsley on the side of plate or discarded the top liquid layer of yogurt (whey)? Of course, these two and there are also some other "worthless" foodstuffs that people avoid to include in their diet. Indeed, these “worthless” foods are loaded with some very beneficial nutrients and provide many unexpected health benefits. Read full article if you want to be acquainted with some worthless foods that are better for your wellbeing than your expectation.

Worthless foods that are better for you than you think
Parsley

Are you one of those who consider parsley as just a decorative garnish and extract out on the side of plate? Before removing parsley next time from your plate, consider that it is a giant herb among all other herbs in terms of health benefits, even in the small amounts. Just 2 tablespoons of parsley is composed of 156 % of the DV (daily value) of bone-building vitamin K, 17% of the DV of vitamin C and 13% of the DV of vitamin A. Just a sprinkle of parsley not only makes your foodstuffs tastier, but even makes your body healthier.
Parsley contains vitamin K in abundance, which is a very essential vitamin for the strengthening of our bones. Vitamin K also thwarts calcium build-up in our tissue that can cause cardiovascular diseases like stroke, heart attack and atherosclerosis, so a regular garnish of parsley can help to defend against those diseases.

As it contains an effective anti-inflammatory agent vitamin C, the regular consumption of parsley can conflict the onset of inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The vitamin A and vitamin C both together are found to strengthen the immune system of body. Parsley is loaded with a flavonoid antioxidant ‘luteolin’ that discovers and wipes out free radicals from the body, serves as an anti-inflammatory agent, and also promotes carbohydrate metabolism.

Parsley contains an organic compound ‘myristicin’, which is found to have an anti-cancer property. It hinders tumor formation and fights against oxidized molecules. That is not all; it also neutralizes carcinogens such as benzopyrene in cigarette smoke, consequently fighting against prostate and colon cancer.

Whey

The top liquid layer of yogurt has been often discarded by people. This liquid layer is whey, which is a naturally occurring protein. As everyone knows, protein is an important nutrient composed of essential and non-essential amino acids, which are the ‘building blocks’ for healthy bodies. Whey protein is a complete protein of very high quality containing wealthy amounts of all the essential amino acids.

An essential amino acid Leucine is present in higher amount in whey protein than the soy protein and egg protein. Leucine improves the body composition by preserving calorie-burning lean muscle tissue and promoting the fat loss. Its usefulness in weight loss & in gaining calorie-burning lean muscle is one of the excellent characteristics of whey. Including whey protein into a snack supplies energy and may help to control food intake.

The good thing is that whey does not contain any fat, cholesterol or lactose in its purest form. Whey is a rich source of bio-available calcium, so it is valuable in reducing stress fractures during exercise particularly in women athletes having low oestrogen levels.

It also helps in bone development, immune system boosting, lowering cholesterol & blood pressure levels and general wellness. Whey may help to defend the body from prostate cancer as it is loaded with cysteine, a major building block of a prostate cancer-fighting antioxidant ‘glutathione’.

Mushrooms

Obviously, Mushroom is not renowned as a nutrient-rich and wholesome food as other more brightly colored veggies like Swiss chard or sweet potatoes, though mushroom is still a good foodstuff for us. Mushrooms are loaded with many hidden treasures of nature but the focus on the nutritional facts of more brightly colored veggies has unwillingly left them behind in the race.

Often grouped with veggies, mushrooms supply many of the nutritional characteristics which are more commonly found in beans, meat or grains. Mushrooms have a quality of delivering the meaty savor and the good thing about this food is that it is very low in calories. Hence, mushrooms can be used as a hearty & fulfilling substitute for some or all of the meat at dinner, especially for those who are trying to maintain weight.
Besides being cholesterol-free, fat-free, low in calories, and very low in sodium; mushrooms also provide some vital nutrients including vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, potassium, selenium and more. There are a very small number of foods which can deliver vitamin D, and mushroom is one among them. 5 IUs of the vitamin D can be obtained from 4 medium sized mushrooms; of course, it is not a very high amount, but still it is noteworthy.

Mushrooms supply a powerhouse of nutrients, which can aid to defend against some cancers. One emerging research has suggested that the white button mushrooms are loaded with phytochemicals, which can aid to prevent the breast cancer. As mushrooms are major source of the essential antioxidant selenium, they aid in protecting body cells from damage and strengthening the immune system.

Iced Tea

Freshly brewed & unsweetened or very lightly sweetened iced tea is not only a refreshing drink, but it is also good for improving your health. There are lots of different varieties and flavors of tea which can be used to prepare iced unsweetened tea, but the black and green varieties are more beneficial among all. Unsweetened iced tea doesn’t contain any added sugar, so it is a calorie-free & a healthy alternative to the soda & other sweetened beverages.

A variety of antioxidants are loaded in unsweetened iced tea, which can help to improve your immune system, boost your overall health and prevent illness. It is particularly rich in antioxidants known as ‘flavonoids’, which may help to defend you against cancer by targeting the dangerous free radicals and eradicating them before they lead you to get ill. The flavonoids are most potent while tea is freshly brewed. If you wish to keep a batch of cold tea in your refrigerator, then add a squeeze of lemon juice in it. The vitamin C and citric acid of the lemon juice will help to preserve the flavonoids for boosting the antioxidant power.

Drinking a glass of unsweetened iced tea can aid you to lower your daily sugar intake and to feel full without calories, which is very helpful for people who want to lose weight safely. One component in tea called Theanine is shown to increase our concentration & focus and to improve our health as well. Drinking the iced tea on regular basis may lessen the risk of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease as well as it is advantageous for stronger bones and healthier teeth & gums.

Celery Stalks
Celery is one of the very low calorie herbal plants, containing only 16 calories per 100 g serving. It can be considered as one of the most valuable low calorie weight loss functional food, because it contains abundant health-benefiting phyto-nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, non-soluble fibers, flavonoids, minerals and other vitamins.

Luteolin, a flavonoid present in celery, is believed to improve spatial memory and to lessen inflammation which can cause cognitive decline. Riboflavin, niacin, folic acid and vitamin C are some vital vitamins present in the celery, which are crucial for optimum metabolism. Being a good source of natural flavonoid antioxidants vitamin-A and beta-carotene, celery helps our body to defend against lung and oral cavity cancers.

Fresh celery is a very rich source of bone-building vitamin K, which promotes osteotrophic activity in the bones and limits the neuronal damage in brain in the patients of Alzheimer's disease.

It is a very good source of minerals such as potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and manganese. Potassium is a significant element of cell and body fluids, which help to control blood pressure and heart rate.

Radishes

Radishes are loaded highly with naturally occurring nitrates but these nitrates are not similar to those unhealthy artificial nitrates of processed meat. These nitrates are found beneficial to boost the blood flow in brain by keeping the blood vessels supple; the poor blood flow leads to age-related cognitive decline.

The nutrition facts of radish are ideal for fat loss as it is a very low calorie vegetable which doesn’t contain any fat or cholesterol. Radishes can help you to lose weight by fulfilling your appetite in very few calories, thanks to its high water and carbohydrate content.

Radish is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is a good detoxifier that eradicates toxins from the body and helps to prevent many types of cancer including stomach, mouth, kidney and colon cancers. Vitamin C is also accountable to ward off illnesses such as common cold, and chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

Radishes are considered as anti-congestive food, which alleviates congestion in the respiratory system. A healthy dose of radish is proven very beneficial for clearing up congestion to relieve cold or respiratory infections or an allergic flare-up. Radish is also a low calorie and healthy remedy to cure urinary disorders, kidney disorders, jaundice, fever and insect bites.

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