THIS IS NOT A JOKE !
To keep a sharp mind! Fascinating!CAN YOU SEE 10 FACES IN THIS TREE?THERE’S A FACE IN HERE. CAN YOU SEE IT?CAN YOU SEE THE BABY?CAN YOU SEE THE KISSING COUPLE?
CAN YOU SEE THE THREE WOMEN?Send this round’ to all your friends, these are really fascinating!
If you find them all you are not at the beginning stages ofAlzheimer or Dementia!
Tag: Food
Bond of love
My wife called, ‘How long will you be poring over that newspaper?
Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?’
I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene.
My only daughter Sindu looked frightened.
Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with Curd Rice.
Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has just turned eight.
She particularly detested Curd Rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox,
and believe firmly in the ‘coolingeffects’ of Curd Rice! I cleared my throat,
and picked up the bowl. ‘Sindu, darling, why don’t you take
a few mouthful of this Curd Rice?Just for Dad’s sake, dear. And, if you don’t,
your Mom will shout at me’I could sense my wife’s scowl behind my back.
Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands.
‘OK, Dad. I will eat – not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lotof this.
But, you should…’ Sindu hesitated.
‘Dad, if I eat this entire curd Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?’
‘Oh sure, darling’.
‘Promise?’
‘Promise’.
I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine,
and clinched the deal. ‘Ask Mom also to give a similar promise’,
my daughter insisted. My wife slapped her hand on Sindu’s,
muttering ‘Promise’, without any emotion.
Now I became a bit anxious. ‘Sindu dear,
you shouldn’t insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items.
Dad does not havethat
kind of money right now. OK?’
‘No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive’.
Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity.
I was silently angry with my wife and my mother fo
r forcing my child eat something that she detested.
After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation.
All our attention was on her.
‘Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!’ was her demand.
‘Atrocious!’ shouted my wife, ‘A girl child having her head shaved off?
Impossible!’
Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?’
I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene.
My only daughter Sindu looked frightened.
Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with Curd Rice.
Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has just turned eight.
She particularly detested Curd Rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox,
and believe firmly in the ‘coolingeffects’ of Curd Rice! I cleared my throat,
and picked up the bowl. ‘Sindu, darling, why don’t you take
a few mouthful of this Curd Rice?Just for Dad’s sake, dear. And, if you don’t,
your Mom will shout at me’I could sense my wife’s scowl behind my back.
Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands.
‘OK, Dad. I will eat – not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lotof this.
But, you should…’ Sindu hesitated.
‘Dad, if I eat this entire curd Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?’
‘Oh sure, darling’.
‘Promise?’
‘Promise’.
I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine,
and clinched the deal. ‘Ask Mom also to give a similar promise’,
my daughter insisted. My wife slapped her hand on Sindu’s,
muttering ‘Promise’, without any emotion.
Now I became a bit anxious. ‘Sindu dear,
you shouldn’t insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items.
Dad does not havethat
kind of money right now. OK?’
‘No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive’.
Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity.
I was silently angry with my wife and my mother fo
r forcing my child eat something that she detested.
After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation.
All our attention was on her.
‘Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!’ was her demand.
‘Atrocious!’ shouted my wife, ‘A girl child having her head shaved off?
Impossible!’
‘Never in our family!’ my mother rasped.
‘She has been watching too much of television.
Our culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!’
‘Sindu darling, why don’t you ask for something else?
We will be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head.’
‘No, Dad. I do not want anything else’, Sindu said with finality.
‘Please, Sindu, why don’t you try to understand our feelings?’ I tried to plead with her.
‘Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice’. Sindu was in tears.
‘And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for.
Now, you are going back on your words.
Was it not you who told me the story of King Harishchandra,
and its moral that we should honor our promises no matter what?’
It was time for me to call the shots. ‘Our promise must be kept.’
‘Are you out your mind?’ chorused my mother and wife.
‘No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honor her own.
Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled.’
With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big and beautiful.
On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school.
It was a sight to watch my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom.
She turned around and waved.
I waved back with a smile.
Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted, ‘Sinduja, please wait for me!’
What struck me was the hairless head of that boy.
‘May be, that is the in-stuff’, I thought.
‘Sir, your daughter Sinduja is great indeed!’
Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the car,
and continued,’ That boy who is walking along with your daughter is my son Harish.
He is suffering from… … leukemia.’ She paused to muffle her sobs.
‘Harish could not attend the school for the whole of the last month.
He lost all his hair due to the side effects of the chemotherapy.
He refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional but cruel
teasing of the schoolmates.’
Sinduja visited him last week, and promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue.
But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son!
Sir, you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter.’
I stood transfixed. And then, I wept.
‘My little Angel, you are teaching me how self-less real love is!’
*The happiest people on this planet are not those who live on
their own terms but are those who change their terms for the ones whom they love
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Palak Thepla and Chhundo
Sheetla Saatam is one of the festivals I came to know only after marriage. Those who observe this festival, eat stale food or food cooked previous day. Generally, my mom-in-law prepares theplas a day before, especially for this festival. Theplas taste good even next day and they don’t get rotten. I tasted this Palak Thepla during one such Sheetla Saatam celebrations.
Palak Thepla
Spinach Flatbread
Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup bajra flour
2 cups shredded, fresh spianch/palak
1/2 tsp ajmo/owa/ajwain
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp ginger-green chili paste (optional)
1 tsp mild chili powder
1 tsp coriander-cumin powder
1 tsp jaggery grated or sugar (optional)
salt to taste
water as needed
1 tsp oil
Rice flour for dredging
Oil for roasting
Suggested Accompaniment
Chhundo
Method
1. Mix flours with all the dry ingredients and spinach. Knead to a soft dough, adding water as needed.
2. Smear spoonful of oil and knead again. Set aside for 1/2 hr.
3. Heat a pan or tawa. Make 12 uniform balls.
4. Dredge each ball in rice flour and roll into a disc, one at a time.
5. Roast on a hot tawa or cast iron griddle, so brown spots appear on both the sides. Use oil as needed for roasting.
6. Place in an aluminum foil or a clean cotton napkin till ready to use.
7. Serve with chhundo/sweet & spicy grated mango pickle.
Note –
1. Sometimes, I use Ragi flour or a combination of ragi and bajra flour instead of just bajra flour.
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Foods for Good Digestion
😉
Beetroots are excellent for digestive problems like constipation or abdominal upsets. Beetroots are rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium, which help to remove the waste. All the nutrients present in beetroots help to maintain a healthy digestive system.
Foods for Good Digestion # 2: Beet greens
The green tops of beetroot help to give significant relief to your stomach. They are rich in beta-carotene, iron and calcium. These excellent nutrients help maintain the health of the digestive tract lining and help in smooth movement of the muscle fiber which helps in the bowel movement. Do not over indulge in beet greens as they can weaken your teeth enamel since they contain acidic substance.
Foods for Good Digestion # 3: Apples
The quote “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is all true and very correct as it provides a variety of health benefits. They are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, minerals, potassium and phosphorous. All these contents offer various digestive benefits like lowering constipation problems and improving satiety. The presence of pectin, in apples helps to raise the good bacteria which help in proper functioning of the intestinal health.
Foods for Good Digestion # 4: Bananas
“This yellow fruit is perfect for the proper functioning of the bowel moment. It is a must-have food if you are suffering with diarrhea, because it helps to restore the amount of electrolytes and potassium that are lost during the passage of stools,” says Priya. Besides, it is also loaded with fiber which aids in good digestion.
Foods for Good Digestion # 5: Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes, especially when consumed with their skins on, are a superb food for digestive health. They provide dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates and manganese. Sweet potatoes help in treating peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcers and some other serious bowel ailments.
Foods for Good Digestion # 6: Avocados
This tiny fruit is loaded with fiber, and is one of the most fiber-rich fruits available. This fruit is easy to digest and contains loads of healthy monounsaturated fats. This helps in maintaining the health of the digestive tract, and proper functioning of pancreas and gall bladder. It also converts beta-carotene into vitamin A which helps in developing a healthy mucosal lining in your GI tract.
Foods for Good Digestion # 7: Oats
Oats are rich in soluble fiber, selenium, thiamin, phosphorus, copper, vitamin E and zinc. Presence of soluble fiber helps in proper functioning of the digestive system and extraction of waste and a good pace. Priya says, “Please consult a nutritionist, if you have problem with gluten consumption.”
Foods for Good Digestion # 8: Cod liver oil
Cod liver oil is loaded with vitamin A and vitamin D. The presence of these vitamins is essential to keep the digestive tract healthy and also prevents in the development of various digestive problems in the GI tract.
Foods for Good Digestion # 9: Blueberries
Blueberries are loaded with fiber and vitamin C. Besides providing various digestive health benefits it also possesses cancer-fighting antioxidants. Priya recommends whole blueberries over blueberries juice.
Foods for Good Digestion # 10: Cantaloupe
This fruit is packed with vitamin A, vitamin C and myoinositol. Cantaloupe contains a great amount of digestive enzymes. It also contains powerful agents that help to fight against intestinal cancer. Besides, it helps relieve anxiety, insomnia and prevents hardening of the arteries.
Foods for Good Digestion # 11: Kiwi
People with digestive dysfunction should consume kiwi fruit, as it is loaded with linolenic acid, actinidin, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and other fatty acids. Presence of all these elements eases the functioning of digestion, as kiwi includes pepsin. Pepsin is substantially needed for the proper functioning of the digestive system.
Foods for Good Digestion # 12: Papaya
This tropical fruit is excellent for digestive health. Presence of papain helps in easy breakdown of proteins in the stomach, and this helps in good absorption of the nutrients and facilitates proper bowel functioning.
People with upset tummies should eat papaya, as its anti-inflammatory properties help soothe the stomach. Besides, it helps in good digestion of food, dissolves fats instantly and also relieves heartburn and food allergies.
Foods for Good Digestion # 13: Peaches
This fruit is not only nourishing but also tasty. It is loaded with potassium, fiber, iron, calcium and vitamin C. These elements help in proper digestion and proper functioning of your heart and circulatory system.
Foods for Good Digestion # 14: Tomatoes
Tomatoes are loaded with potassium and magnesium. These contents provide loads of health benefits. The presence of lycopene, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients aids in maintaining digestive health.
Foods for Good Digestion # 15: Carrots
Normally carrots are known for healthy vision. You will be surprised to know that carrots also aid in maintaining digestive health as they are loaded with fiber and antioxidants vitamins.
Foods for Good Digestion # 16: Hot water
Sip on some hot water early in the morning or at regular intervals. This is the best natural technique to treat an upset tummy and it also aids in proper bowel movement.
Foods for Good Digestion # 17: Yoghurt
Probiotics or normal yoghurt is a good natural treatment to treat an upset tummy. Yoghurt helps in treating various digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome and traveler’s diarrhea.
Foods for Good Digestion # 18: Cucumber
Cucumber is loaded with dietary fiber, fats, folate, calcium and vitamin C. Cucumber is good for people suffering from stomach and lung problems. Consuming cucumber juice daily provides relief from heartburn, stomach acidity, gastritis and peptic ulcer. Erepsin, a protein present in cucumber aids in proper digestion.
Foods for Good Digestion # 19: Ginger
This spice is a perfect home remedy to treat various stomach problems like vomiting, gas, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Priya says, “Though it is loaded with benefits, too much consumption can cause heartburn.”
Foods for Good Digestion # 20: Lemon water
Another natural supplement to treat indigestion is lemon water. Consuming lemon water in the morning will give quick relief from indigestion and will remove harmful substances which will further enhance your appetite.
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7 Super foods for HEALTH Boost
7 Super foods to Eat for a Health Boost !!
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A banana a day keeps the Doctor away
BANANA -A very interesting FACTS MUST SHARE………….This is interesting. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.
But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
DEPRESSION:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS:
Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
ANEMIA:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
BLOOD PRESSURE:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
BRAIN POWER:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
CONSTIPATION:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
HANGOVERS:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
HEARTBURN:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
MORNING SICKNESS:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
MOSQUITO BITES:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
NERVES:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system..
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
ULCERS:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chroniclercases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL:
Many other cultures see bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!’
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! —
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Humour – Rat
It was a practical session in the psychology class.
The professor showed a large cage with a male rat in it. The rat was in the middle of the cage. Then, the professor kept a piece of cake on side and kept a female rat on the other side. The male rat ran towards the cake and ate it. Then, the professor changed the cake and kept some bread . The male rat ran towards the bread. This experiment went on with the professor changing the food every time.
And, every time, the male rat ran towards the food item and never towards the female rat. Professor said: This experiment shows that food is the greatest strength and attraction.
Then, one of the students from the back rows said:- “Sir, why don’t you change the female rat? She may be his wife!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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FOOD AS MEDICINE
| Food as Medicine
HEADACHE? EAT FISH! HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!
ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!! ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!! BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!! BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!! MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS! COLDS? EAT GARLIC!
BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!! ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!
CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO! HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!! BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!! Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fibre. It’s Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange. Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke..
Orange : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 – 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.. Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system.. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients Guava & Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fibre which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion)
Very informative – spread the information. |
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MIND BLOWING FOOD FACTS
Mind-blowing food facts! part-1
1 Pineapple is a natural painkiller The fruit contains anti-inflammatory enzymes that bring pain relief from conditions such as arthritis, according to a study at Reading University.
2 Pomegranate juice could prevent a heart attack This wonder juice is believed to improve blood flow to the heart and lower blood pressure.
3 Onions are natural antibiotics They might make your breath pong but onions contain allicin, a powerful antibiotic that also protects the circulatory system.
4 Mushrooms can ward off colds They contain more of an immune-boosting antioxidant called ergothioneine than any other food, say researchers at Pennsylvania State University.
6 Blueberries can boost memory A study at Tufts University in Bostonshowed eating half a cup of this fruit regularly could delay age-related deterioration in co-ordination and short-term memory.
8 Eat chocolate, live longer Hurray! Harvard University scientists say that eating a couple of chocolate bars a week could extend your life by almost a year.
9 Grapefruit juice can stop medicine working If you’re taking medication, avoid washing it down with grapefruit juice as there is evidence that it prevents some drugs being broken down.
10 You should never drink tea or coffee with meals Tannins in tea and coffee prevent absorption of certain nutrients. A cup of tea with a meal will halve the iron you get from it, whereas a glass of orange juice will double it.
11 Cherries can cure gout Cherries contain compounds that significantly reduce the chemicals in the body which cause joint inflammation.
12 Eating curry could help prevent Alzheimer’s According to a report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a yellow pigment used in curry, curcumin, can stop amyloid plaques in the brain that cause the condition.
13 Sniffing a lemon could help you beat asthma The UK’s 5.1 million asthmatics could find lemons ease their symptoms. Studies in rats found that breathing improved after they inhaled limonene, the chemical that gives lemons their smell.
14 Kiwi fruit can improve your eyesight This fuzzy fruit is a surprisingly good source of lutein, an antioxidant that protects your vision.
15 Garlic can cure mouth ulcers and verrucas Here’s an old wives’ tale that works: halve a clove of garlic, squeeze, and apply a drop of the juice to the offending growth at bedtime.
16 You can have too little salt Too much salt isn’t good for us but not getting enough can trigger low blood pressure in those susceptible. Consult your GP before making any major diet changes.
17 Figs can delay brittle bone disease Good news for the three million osteoporosis sufferers in the UK – it is possible to slow its progress by eating calcium-packed figs.
18 Soya can mimic breast cancer drugs A team of Cambridge researchers discovered that a diet high in soya can have a similar effect to anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen.
19 Barbecued-food can cause cancer Eating meat that’s chargrilled or burnt could lead to stomach, pancreatic, colon and breast cancer because it creates high levels of carcinogenic compounds.
20 Cinnamon can help diabetics Just half a teaspoon a day of this spice can significantly reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics, says US research.
21 Chillies can help you breath more easily Capsaicin, which occurs in chillies, shrinks the mucous membranes which can ease blocked noses and sinuses.
22 Watermelon is good for the prostate Men will be glad to know that the red flesh contains the antioxidant Lycopene, which helps keep the prostate gland healthy.
23 Coriander can lower your cholesterol levels This aromatic herb can reduce cholesterol levels and prevent heart problems.
24 Nibbling nuts can prevent blood clots Nuts boost nitric oxide, a compound that relaxes blood vessels and eases blood flow.
25 Banish bad breath with natural yoghurt A few spoonfuls of natural yoghurt can neutralise halitosis, according to Japanese researchers.
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Top 12 Anti Asthma Foods
TOP 12 ANTI-ASTHMA FOODS
There might not be a perfect cure for asthma, but we can find many superfoods with a nutrient profile that is particularly well suited for preventing and alleviating asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. Let’s take a look at 12 such foods and their asthma fighting qualities.
1. AVOCADOS – is one of the prime source of Glutathione, which has been shown to protect cells against free radical damage and to detoxify foreign substances such as pollutants. Without glutathione, other antioxidants would not be able not function efficiently. Avocados are also a good source of vitamin E, particularly for people whose asthma is linked to a nut allergy (nuts are one of the most common sources of vitamin E). However, if you have been diagnosed with a latex allergy, you may want to be careful with avocados, particularly non-organically grown produce. Many suggests that people who are allergic to latex are often also allergic to avocados and other foods that may contain substances called chitinases. Organically grown avocados not treated with ethylene gas contain lower levels of chitinases.
2. BROCCOLI SPROUTS – are true nutritional treasure and a great addition to your diet if you suffer from asthma. A recent study found that the study participants who ate broccoli sprouts for 3 days had an increase in antioxidant compounds that control the airway inflammation associated with bronchial asthma. The effect was most pronounced in those who ate the most broccoli sprouts. Available at many health food stores and grocery stores, broccoli sprouts make a great addition to salads, soups, salsa-topped dishes, and sandwiches.
3. APPLES – Studies show that apples possess some extraordinary properties that may provide protection against asthma. One study discovered that pregnant women who ate apples protected their child from developing asthma. Another study found that by drinking apple juice daily children could reduce their chance of suffering from wheezing by 50%. These beneficial effects of apples may be linked to their high concentration of bioflavonoids, such as quercetin. Quercetin is known to possess strong anti-histamine, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. When buying apples, be sure to purchase organically grown fruit: together with peaches, conventionally grown apples top the list of fruits that contain the highest levels of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
4. BANANAS – Including bananas in your diet may help you breathe easier. According to a British study, children who ate just one banana a day had a 34% lower chance of developing asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing. The results where not surprising considering that bananas are one of the best sources of pyridoxine, commonly known as vitamin B6. Pyridoxine plays a critical role in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), molecules that have been shown to help relax bronchial smooth muscle tissue.
5. GINGER – one of the oldest spices in the world, is well known for its cold treating powers, but it may also help alleviate asthma symptoms. Its asthma fighting properties are thought to be attributable to gingerols, strong anti-inflammatory substances that also give ginger its distinctive flavor. Fresh ginger, which is said to be the most effective form of ginger, is available year round in the produce section of your local supermarket.
6. SPINACH – Popeye was right about one thing: you’d better eat your spinach! The nutritional profile of spinach makes it an excellent health food and an important functional food to be included in any anti-asthma diet. One study with 68,535 female participants found that women with a high intake of spinach had a lower prevalence of asthma. This is not surprising considering that spinach features a host of important asthma preventing nutrients, including beta-carotene (spinach is one of the best sources of beta-carotene there is), vitamin C, vitamin E, and magnesium. It also has a substantial potassium content in proportion to its calorie content: a 100 calorie serving provides about 40% of the reference daily intake for this important anti-asthma mineral.
7. ROSEMARY – It contains rosmarinic acid, that may help alleviate asthma symptoms due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The antioxidant power of rosmarinic acid is believed to be even stronger than that of vitamin E. In addition, rosmarinic acid encourages cells to create prostacyclins, which help keep the air passages of the lungs open and thus promote easy breathing. Rosemary can be used to flavor fish, roast meats, and tomato sauces, but also fruits, especially oranges.
8. SUNFLOWER SEEDS – are brimming of anti-asthma nutrients, as these mild nutty tasting seeds are loaded with vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium. They are also a good source of selenium, with 1 cup providing more than 1/3 of the recommended daily intake for this important mineral. Furthermore, sunflower seeds are among the seeds and nuts that are least likely to cause allergic reactions in people. But, be careful while consuming them, as they are quite calorie-dense.
9. SWEET POTATOES – are one of the oldest vegetables known to man and one of the most nutritious too. Sweet potatoes are one of the foods that are least likely to cause allergic reactions, which is great news since asthma is often linked to allergies. What’s more, sweet potatoes contain plenty of vitamin C and potassium as well as unique root proteins which, according to preliminary studies, may have significant antioxidant properties. The pink, orange, and yellow varieties are also one of the most concentrated food sources of beta-carotene (the more intense the color, the more beta-carotene).
10. KALE – This relatively unknown member of the cabbage family is a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins and other phytochemicals that have been shown to alleviate symptoms associated with asthma. Not only is kale a great source of vitamin C, it is also one of the most concentrated dietary sources of beta-carotene (kale contains 10 times the beta-carotene of broccoli). Kale can be eaten raw, for example as a substitute for iceberg lettuce in salads. The beautiful green leaves of kale can also be transformed into a savory warm dish by sautéing the leaves and mixing them with chopped onions, crushed garlic and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
11. TURMERIC – a spice that lends its yellow color to curries and many other foods, has long been used in traditional Asian medicine to treat asthma and many other conditions and diseases. In recent years, western medicine has started to pay greater attention to this extraordinary spice. Recent research suggests that turmeric possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties. Although best known for its use in Indian style curries, turmeric can also be used to add flavor and color to fish, seafood, meat, rice, vegetable, and pasta dishes.
12. MUSTARD GREENS – Chock-full of antioxidants and nutrients, mustard greens can make an excellent addition to your diet if you are susceptible to asthma attacks. In addition to being one of the best sources of beta-carotene, they provide a good amount of vitamin C and vitamin E. The nutrients in mustard greens can remove free radicals that cause smooth muscle contraction and airway constriction in people with asthma. Moreover, they may aid in the breakdown of histamine. Mustard greens with their distinctly peppery flavor are available throughout the year and can be found in the produce section of your local supermarket.
Like said before, no food can actually “cure” asthma; but only provide relief for asthma symptoms, in a long run of consumption. So, if you are asthmatic, or prone to frequent attacks, don’t forget these nutrient-rich foods that may help alleviate your asthma symptoms.
My blog- K. Hariharan 