Day 557:
Boost your self-esteem by eating bright colored fruits and
vegetables.
Welcome to the one hundred and ninety-second day of our second volume of
this series. On the corresponding day of the first volume we had:
Boost
your self-esteem by interpreting events in the best way possible.
Human beings are body/mind/soul/spirit as an integral unity. Thus anything
we do to alter any of these aspects of our being will alter the other aspects.
When we look after our bodies, we look after our mind and soul and we respect
our spirit. As far as our self-esteem is concerned anytime we look after ourselves,
we are saying to ourselves that we are valuable.
Yesterday we started the current series of looking after your body by suggesting
you drink
at least eight glasses of water each day. Today we continue by looking at
colorful fruits and vegetables. Modern research has shown that colorful plant
matter contain phytochemicals, plant chemicals, which are mostly antioxidants
and help keep us young.
An important pyhtochemical is lycopene which is the red in tomatoes, watermelon
and red chilies and the pink in grape fruits. It is an excellent antioxidant
and is associated with lowering risk of prostate cancer and heart disease. Latest
research suggests that lycopene may reduce the risk of macular degenerative
disease, serum lipid oxidation and cancers of the lung, bladder, cervix and
skin.
The main source of lycopene in the diet is tomatoes and as it happens in
this case cooking it frees more of the lycopene for absorption into the body.
Thus pasta with tomato sauce is an excellent source of this wonderful antioxidant.
Other phytochemicals have other healthful effects. As a general rule colorful
fruits and vegetables have excellent healing properties and help keep us youthful
and good looking. Most authorities suggest you eat at least five servings of
fruits and vegetables each day.
It is best to eat fresh organic foods and being aware of the spiritual aspect
of eating. Depending on your religious tradition you may wish to thank the Creator
for the food you eat. I like the Native American way of thanking the spirit
of the food that I am eating. Somehow when you honestly enjoy and appreciate
the food you eat its nutritional value increases.
Here is a least of some other important phytochemicals and their sources:
- Ajoene - is found in garlic, it's good for you (as well warding off
vampires). Ajoene may reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
- Butyl Phthalide - is the distinctive taste and smell of celery. It may
protect you against cancer, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
- Calcium Pectate - is that crunch in your pickle and may help lower your
cholesterol levels by removing cholesterol from the bloodstream.
- Capsaicin - is found in and is a digestive aid, a topical painkiller,
and a potential cancer-fighting compound.
- Catechin Hydrate - is found in tea leaves and is one of the reasons we
suggested you drink tea as part of your daily eight glasses of water consumption.
- Coumesterol - is found in soy products, this phytoestrogen appears promising
as a naturally-occurring cancer preventative. Altogether soy has many isoflavone
with wonderful protective effects especially in menopausal women.
- Ellagic Acid - is found in strawberries and raspberries. It fights cancer
in humans.
- Genistein - is another soy isoflavone derivative which may be excellent
in fighting cancer.
- Indole - is an aromatic cancer fighter in the vegetables everybody loves
to hate: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage.... Listen to your mom and eat
your cabbage....
- Lutein - is found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, collard
greens, romaine lettuce, leeks and peas. Lutein acts to filter and shield
harmful blue light from the eye and protect against age-related macular degeneration,
the leading cause of blindness in people over 65.
The above list is not definitive and more phytochemicals are being discovered
all the time and more of their helpful effects are being discovered on a continual
basis.
Please write to us about today's
piece. I hope most of you approve but we would love to hear from all. This
web site is as much yours as it is ours. Your feedback will help us improve
it for you. Many thanks....
Namaste means "the Divinity within me salutes the Divinity within you...."
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