FOODS THAT DETERMINE YOUR FITNESS
Summarized by: Lomar Tan, July 7, 2007
Food as
medicine It was the
Father of
Medicine himself, The Great Hippocrates, who said: "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food". Today, though many could attest to the truth behind those words, many are still yet to believe while there are still others who does not believe and simply go for chemicals as treatment to their long-standing illness. We are all entitled to believe what we want, but here are some more inputs that may guide you to better choices in managing your disease conditions or better prevent being sick at all. ALFALFA. Dubbed as the "The Great Healer" is low in things you do not want. – calories and fats – but is a good source of fiber. The leaves of Alfalfa plant contain eight essential enzymes. In some scientific journals, Alfalfa has been written to be a potent
cholesterol buster. In one study, total cholesterol of the subjects were down by 17 percent and more importantly, LDL or bad cholesterol was down by 18 percent. ALMONDS. Rich in monounsaturated fatty acids may be protective against cardiovascular diseases. More than this, did you know that this nut is a source of calcium! ANCHOVY. Many people get to eat this food only from the pizza they buy, while others throw them in the blender with some oil, vinegar and spices to make an excellent salad dressing. However you get to consume it, anchovy is packed with good nutrients. Three -and–a-half ounce of this food contain an impressive 1.4 gm of omega three fatty acids. Eating even only one gram of omega three fatty acids daily can reduce a man’s risk of developing coronary artery disease by 40 percent. BARLEY. Today’s fast-food generation may have never tasted this wonderful grain. Instead of focusing on prevention of heart attack, they actually leisurely attack the fats from many fast-food chain products. Barley is an excellent source of soluble fiber that tears many dangers to your health. Soluble fibers are known to be helpful in bringing down elevated blood sugar levels. CRANBERRY. This berry helps change the pH of the urine and thus promotes a healthy urinary tract. Cranberry also provides a "Teflon Effect" that makes bacteria unable to stick to the endothelial cells of the urinary tract. CURRY. Although curry is sold as a single spice, it is actually a combination of turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, cardamom, coriander and cumin. Spices are potent antioxidants . They prevent formation of free radicals that can damage healthy tissues and promote aging. Many has also believed that curry spices have an antibiotic effect. It may even be helpful in fighting bacteria that causes food poisoning. WHEAT BRAN. There a lot of good reasons to include wheat bran as a daily part of your diet. It is high in insoluble fiber that helps maintain bowel regularity. Eating a high fiber meal will help you feel fuller for a longer period of time and thus prevents you from unnecessary eating. In one study, patients with precancerous polyps where given a diet rich in wheat brans cereals and the good news from the study reveals that four years later, the polyps have shrunk in size and number. YOGURT. For years, yogurt has been a popular remedy for vaginal yeast infection. A woman physician fed yogurt containing lactobacillus acidophilus to women with a history of chronic yeast infection (which can occur as often as five to six times a year), her findings: women who ate 8 ounce of yogurt each day had significantly fewer infections than those who did not. Making good choices on what to include in our daily meals counts a lot when it comes to maintaining the good health we are enjoying or even being able to recover from certain illnesses we are suffering from. From here on, read more and expand your knowledge about food as medicine. *** Metropolitan Medical Center will hold a lecture on "How To Stay Fit For Life" on July 9. For free registration, email wellbeing@mb.com.ph or joansumpio@yahoo.com. Free blood sugar screening, body fat analysis and foot reflexology awaits all participants.