Eggplants are a heavenly delight for vegetarians. Apart from being a popular choice in different cuisines, they offer a multitude of benefits as well.The nutritious eggplant, also called brinjal or aubergine, hails from the nightshade family of fruits and vegetables that includes potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes. Botanically, the brinjal is a fruit, not a vegetable and the brinjal plant grows just like tomatoes as vines. For its utility in the kitchen or rather, for cooking purposes, it is considered a vegetable. Just like other colorful veggies, this vegetable has a host of health benefits.
1. HELPS KEEPING DIABETES IN CONTROL:
The eggplants are a very rich source of fiber and low soluble carbohydrates. Thus they are highly beneficial for regulation of blood sugar levels and also to control the absorption of glucose. This makes them the best option for people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
2. HELPFUL TO THE HEART:
The cholesterol levels are brought down to a great extent by the eggplant. It also helps stabilize the level of blood pressure. All this, in turn, lowers the risk of heart diseases. The body is also kept well-hydrated thanks to the potassium content present in this vegetable. This ensures that there is no retention of fluids which prevents coronary heart diseases.
3.HELPFUL TO THE BRAIN:
Eggplant contains phytonutrients which keep the cell membranes protected from any kind of damage and facilitates the message transfer from one part to another, thus preserving the memory function.
4.HELPS IN IRON PRODUCTION:
We all require iron for proper functioning in our day to day life. However, too much iron in the body is not a good sign. The content of nasunin that is present in eggplant helps remove excess iron from the body. This brings down the risk of getting heart attacks as it damages the existence of the free radicals in one’s system.
5.FACILITATES WEIGHT LOSS:
Eggplant is considered to be high in water content yet low in calorie count. This feature makes it very ideal as a healthy diet for people who want to reduce weight. The spongy texture of the vegetable is what facilitates these characteristics, hence one must consume in its natural form as much as possible.
6. HELPS INDIGESTION:
The digestive system is kept healthy and safe because of the good content of fiber in brinjals. This prevents constipation as well. The risk of colon cancer is also eliminated.
7. KEEPS CHRONIC DISEASES AT BAY:
Eggplant reduces the chance of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.
8. HELPS QUIT SMOKING:
Eggplant has a small amount of nicotine which helps those who want to gradually quit smoking.
9. ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES:
The eggplant has good amounts of vitamin C which makes it an effective anti-viral and anti-bacterial source.
Skin Benefits of Eggplant/Brinjal:
10. FLAWLESS SKIN:
Eggplants are very rich in minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber. This helps keep the system clean from within which reflects in the form of flawless skin outside.
11. GLOWING SKIN:
Eggplants have a good amount of water content. This helps in keeping your body and skin well hydrated. The minerals and vitamins also help give a clear and smooth tone.
12. SOFT AND SUPPLE SKIN:
The water content found in eggplants helps keep your skin soft and supple.
13. ANTI-AGING:
The skin of eggplants has a lot of anthocyanins. These antioxidants act as anti-aging agents.
14. PREVENTS SKIN CANCER:
A particular antioxidant found in eggplant helps prevent skin cancer. HAIR BENEFITS OF EGGPLANT/BRINJAL:
15. STRONG HAIR:
The water content of eggplants nourishes your hair roots from within. This, in turn, helps keep your hair stronger.
16. HYDRATED SCALP:
Eggplants come with a good amount of minerals and vitamins which give nourishment to your scalp and keep it healthy. Hence it keeps scalp-related problems at bay.
17. HAIR GROWTH:
Eggplants come with enzymes that help stimulate the follicles of your hair. This generates good hair growth and makes your hair healthier.
18. HAIR TEXTURE:
People with rough and dry hair should eat more eggplants. It helps give a healthy shine to your hair while improving its overall texture.
Do you cringe every time you are asked to have tomato soup? Well, tomatoes are filled with nutrients and antioxidants that help combat several diseases as well as keep your health in good shape.
Improves vision: Vitamin A, present in tomatoes, helps to improve your eyesight as well as prevent night-blindness and macular degeneration.
Helps fight cancer: According to studies, tomatoes contain large amounts of the antioxidant lycopene, that is effective in lowering the risk of cancer, especially lung, stomach and prostrate cancers.
Maintaining blood health: Research suggests that a single tomato can provide about 40% of the daily vitamin C requirement and also contains vitamin A, potassium, and iron that is essential for maintaining normal blood health. Vitamin K, which is controls bleeding and blood clotting, tomatoes help in blood circulation.
Reduces risk of heart disease: The lycopene in tomatoes can protect you against cardiovascular diseases. Consuming tomatoes regularly helps decrease the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood, reducing the deposition of fats in the blood vessels.
Good for digestion: Eating tomatoes daily can keep your digestive system healthy as it prevents both, constipation and diarrhoea. It also prevents jaundice and effectively removes toxins from the body.
Skin: Collagen is an essential component of the skin, hair, nails, and connective tissue.
The production of collagen in the body is reliant on vitamin C. A deficiency of vitamin C can lead to scurvy. As vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, a low intake is associated with increased damage from sunlight, pollution, and smoke.
This can lead to wrinkles, sagging skin, blemishes, and other adverse health effects of the skin.
Pregnancy: Adequate folate intake is essential before and during pregnancy to protect against neural tube defects in infants.
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate. It is available in supplements but can also be boosted through dietary measures.
While it is recommended that women who are pregnant take a folic acid supplement, tomatoes are a great source of naturally-occurring folate. This applies equally for women who may become pregnant in the near future.
Eating a variety of nutritious, colourful fruits and vegetables daily is key to preventing and lowering your risk of developing breast and other women’s cancers fuelled by obesity.
“Women should minimise the processed foods they eat from a box,”
“Natural, whole and fresh foods are always the best choices.”
One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, but the good news is, if caught early, it can be treated effectively. Starting at age 40, go for an annual mammogram to check breast health and in between mammograms, perform monthly breast self-exams.
Colon cancer is the third largest cause of cancer death among women. “At age 50, women need to make sure they start getting their regular colonoscopy screening,” As catching any abnormal colon polyp growths early can prevent cancer from further developing or spreading.
“Cancers caused by smoking are preventable if you put the cigarettes down,”
More than 13% of women are still smoking cigarettes in the US, despite the evidence that it leads to premature death, heart disease, heart attack and stroke, and lung and other cancers.
#healthyeating #Nutrition #healthydiet
Pineapple is a tropical fruit that is rich in important enzymes and nutrients. It has been linked to several benefits, including possible weight loss, better digestion, and treatment for inflammation.
Pineapples were also found to improve the nutritional status of children. They have a powerful nutritional profile and are especially rich in vitamins C and A.
In this post, we will explore the health benefits of pineapple and also discuss pineapple supplements.
What Is The Nutritional Profile Of Pineapples?
A cup (165 grams) of fresh pineapple chunks contains 82 calories. It has 22 grams of carbs and 2.3 grams of fiber. Following are the other nutrients present:
79 mg of vitamin C
95 IU of vitamin A
21 mg of calcium
19 mg of magnesium
12 mg of phosphorus
180 mg of potassium
29 mcg of folate
*Values sourced from USDA National Nutrient Database, pineapple, raw
Over the years, science has heavily researched on pineapples and the health benefits they offer. The following section talks about them in detail.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Pineapples?
Pineapple contains bromelain, a digestive enzyme that offers most of its benefits. Bromelain has been found to combat cancer and fight inflammation and associated ailments. The fruit also boosts your immunity and strengthens bones.
1. May Aid Weight Loss
Studies show the possible anti-obesity effects of pineapples. Rats fed on a high-fat diet showed a reduction in body weight, body mass index, body fat accumulation, and liver fat accumulation after the intake of pineapple juice.
Pineapple juice was observed to decrease lipogenesis (formation of fat) and increase lipolysis (the breakdown of fats to release fatty acids).
Pineapple may appear to be the ideal food to burn belly fat, although we need more research in this regard.
2. May Aid Digestion
The most important component of pineapple is bromelain, a potent digestive enzyme. Studies show that bromelain supplementation may help in the breakdown of proteins .
It can help treat pancreatic insufficiency, a digestive disorder in which the pancreas doesn’t produce enough of certain enzymes the body uses to digest food in the small intestine .
A formula with bromelain as one of the primary ingredients could relieve excess flatulence and diarrhea .
3. May Help Reduce Cancer Risk
Studies have stated that bromelain in pineapples may have anti-cancer activity. The enzyme may have a direct impact on cancer cells and their environment .
Bromelain exhibits anti-cancer effects on colon cancer cells. Foods containing bromelain are considered good candidates for reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.
Bromelain can also hinder cancer progression by fighting inflammation, a primary contributor to cancer. It prevents the further generation of cancer cells by exposing them to the immune system. Various traditional and clinical reports indicate the anti-cancer properties of pineapple’s bromelain. Further studies may offer more promising results in this area .
In mouse studies, bromelain was also found to inhibit the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. It also could reduce the survival of these cells .
4. May Help Combat Inflammation
In animal studies, bromelain has been reported to have therapeutic effects on various inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel syndrome. Bromelain exposure could remove a number of cell surface molecules that contribute to inflammation.
Bromelain in pineapples also achieves this by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines . These are compounds in the human system that promote inflammation, more so in the case of inflammatory bowel disease.
Pineapple extract was also found to treat other issues related to inflammation, including allergic airway disease. The fruit’s enzyme could alter the activation and expansion of specific cells of the immune system. The study was conducted on mouse cells.
5. May Help Treat Arthritis And Promote Bone Health
Bromelain may also aid in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The enzyme exhibits analgesic properties, especially in inflammatory pain in humans. It achieves this by directly influencing bradykinin, a pain mediator that causes the contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels
Pineapples also contain manganese, a mineral important in bone formation. They also contain vitamin C that supports the formation of collagen in bones. Pineapples can promote the growth of bones in the young and strengthen bones in older people.
The anti-inflammatory properties of pineapple’s bromelain may also help treat rheumatoid arthritis pain .
6. May Improve Cardiac Health
Bromelain in pineapples was found to reduce the aggregation of blood platelets. This may help treat acute thrombophlebitis (a condition characterized by blood clots). However, more studies on human populations are needed to conclude the beneficial effects of bromelain on cardiovascular disease .
Bromelain may also break down cholesterol plaques, further promoting heart health. Its efficacy in the treatment of other cardiac diseases, including coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and stroke is yet to be proven.
7. May Promote Immunity
Bromelain in pineapples can modulate the immune system and potentially accelerate wound healing.
Children consuming pineapple juice also had a lower risk of contracting microbial infections. The fruit was found to increase the concentrations of the disease-fighting white blood cells by four times.
In another study, children with sinusitis showed faster recovery with a bromelain supplement.
Another study sheds light on bromelain’s potential to treat asthma symptoms. It may exert a therapeutic effect on various allergic airway diseases, including allergic asthma .
8. May Enhance Recovery
The anti-inflammatory properties of pineapple’s bromelain can aid recovery. This is especially true in case of a much-needed recovery after surgery. More studies are needed to establish bromelain’s effectiveness in post-surgery recovery.
In a study, bromelain intake significantly reduced pain in patients undergoing dental surgery. The enzyme offered similar relief as other anti-inflammatory drugs .
Bromelain was also found to reduce feelings of fatigue. It reduced muscle damage and improved recovery across consecutive days of cycling .
9. May Improve Skin Health
There is limited research in this aspect. The vitamin C in pineapples may benefit the skin. The vitamin promotes collagen production and may protect the skin from damage.
Pineapples are amazing-looking fruits with equally amazing benefits. There is no reason you shouldn’t add them to your diet. But how do you do it?
How To Add Pineapples To Your Diet
Pineapples are affordable and easy to eat. In addition to their goodness, they taste delicious too. You can enjoy pineapples in the following ways:
Add a sliced pineapple to your morning smoothies.
Chop pineapple and add it to your evening salad.
Add the fruit to your homemade pizza.
Pineapple is a versatile fruit and can be easily incorporated into most dishes.
Having a pineapple may not be the only way to enjoy the beneficial effects of bromelain.
Hemp seed oil is derived from the hemp seed, which is a part of the cannabis plant (marijuana). The oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants that may help fight inflammation and other ailments associated with it.
Contrary to popular opinion, the oil does not cause any psychotropic reactions like marijuana. In this post, we will discuss what science says about the health benefits of hemp seed oil.
What Is Hemp Seed Oil? What Is It Good For?
Hemp seed oil is derived from hemp seeds. Though marijuana comes from the same plant, hemp seeds contain just trace amounts of THC (the most active ingredient of marijuana), and they don’t get you high.
The oil is filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents and other essential fatty acids (like GLA), all of which are known to combat diseases like inflammatory arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
What Are The Benefits Of Hemp Seed Oil?
1. May Fight Inflammation
Hemp seed oil is rich in GLA (gamma-linoleic acid), which is an omega-6 fatty acid that may boost immunity and fight inflammation.
However, both animal and human studies still need to conclude how effective the anti-inflammatory properties of hempseed could be.
The oil is also a good source of anti-inflammatory compounds, which may help relieve arthritic symptoms. More research is required to study its anti-inflammatory effects.
Hemp seed oil, when taken along with evening primrose oil, was found to improve symptoms in individuals with multiple sclerosis (which can be caused by inflammation). Experts theorize it might also help in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
2. May Boost Heart Health
A meal containing hempseeds was found to help prevent high cholesterol levels. The results could be attributed to the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the seeds. These seeds (and their oil) could show potential in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
As per an animal study, hemp seed oil was found to reduce cholesterol absorption. Another study states that taking 30 mL of the oil every day for four weeks reduces the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol. This may promote heart health.
It also is thought that in addition to the fatty acids, certain other bioactive compounds found in hemp seed oil may also help in this regard. The oil has omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the optimal ratio – 3:5:1 to 4:2:1, which seems to satisfy the modern standards of healthy nutrition.
3. May Aid Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes is also linked to an unbalanced intake of essential fatty acids. As hemp oil is rich in essential fatty acids, it may work as a good supplemental treatment.
However, we need more research before we conclude that hemp seed oil can benefit diabetes. Please consult your doctor before using the oil for this purpose.
4. May Help Reduce Cancer Risk
The tetrahydrocannabinol in hemp seed oil may help inhibit certain forms of cancer. Most animal studies have shown the tumor-inhibiting action of tetrahydrocannabinol.
However, we need more additional trials to understand the antitumor effects of tetrahydrocannabinol and hemp seed oil.
Other studies have shown that cannabinoids derived from hemp seeds may aid in the treatment of cancers of the lung and breast.
The GLA and omega-3s in hemp oil may also help, but we need more research to confirm the findings.
5. May Improve Brain Health
The hemp seed oil contains cannabinoids. Studies show that these may help ease anxiety in those with a social anxiety disorder (9).
Studies also support that inhalation of hemp essential oil can have a relaxing effect on the nervous system. Inhaling the oil (aromatherapy) is believed to enhance the mood. There is a possibility that the oil may also have antidepressant effects.
The essential fatty acids in the oil may also improve memory and prevent age-related cognitive decline. Further studies are warranted to arrive at a conclusion.
6. May Boost Immunity
The oil contains omega-3 fatty acids. Some research shows that omega-3 fatty acids may boost immunity and enhance protection against infections and other related ailments.
7. May Be Beneficial During Pregnancy
Hemp seed oil is also a great option for all pregnant mothers. Again, a major part of the credit goes to the omega-3 fatty acids.
According to an American study, adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids is critical during pregnancy as they are the building blocks of the fetal brain and retina. They also play a major role in preventing perinatal depression.
Oils containing omega-3 fatty acids can also help prevent preterm delivery and promote an easier birth and the baby’s optimum lifelong wellness.
However, there is less information available on the safety of hemp seed oil during pregnancy. Also, whether the omega-3 fatty acids in the oil would benefit during pregnancy is still a matter of debate. Hence, we recommend you consult your doctor.
8. May Enhance Digestive Health
Direct research on the efficacy of hemp seed oil on promoting digestive health is lacking. However, the EPA and DHA (in the omega-3s in the oil) were found to synthesize compounds called eicosanoids.
Some experts believe that these eicosanoids may regulate the secretion of digestive juices and hormones, thereby aiding the overall digestive process. However, sufficient research is lacking in this regard.
It also is believed that the small amount of protein in the oil is identical to the one present in our blood, which may help in alleviating digestive troubles (as the protein gets easily digested in the human body). More studies are warranted to establish this theory.
9. May Be Useful For Skin Care
Hemp seed oil can help you get beautiful and healthy skin. It acts as a moisturizer and prevents your skin from becoming dry during the winters. In other words, it keeps your skin soft, fresh, and hydrated.
You can try applying hemp seed oil all over your body after taking a bath. You will notice the difference in a few days. However, we suggest you do a patch test first as anecdotal evidence suggests that hemp seed oil may cause allergies.
Some sources suggest that the oil does not clog your pores. Its linoleic acid may regulate sebum production. Lack of linoleic acid in the diet can provoke the sebum to clog our pores, which gives rise to blackheads, whiteheads, or acne lesions. In fact, those with acne had decreased concentrations of linoleic acid on the skin surface. You can wet your face, pat it dry, and apply the oil to the affected areas. Massage properly. Use it once a day.
You can use hemp seed oil in a similar way to removing makeup.
10. May Protect Skin From Disease
Dietary hemp seed oil may be used to treat atopic dermatitis. Studies attribute this therapeutic effect to the polyunsaturated fatty acids in hemp seed oil.
Some evidence suggests that hemp seed oil can also be used as a treatment for eczema. The oil strengthens the skin and makes it resistant to bacterial and fungal infections.
The essential fatty acids in the oil act may as an internal moisturizer, helping relieve eczema symptoms. Taking the oil thrice a day, along with applying it to the affected areas on the skin, could be beneficial. But since solid research is lacking in this regard, consult your doctor before using the oil for eczema treatment.
Using the oil every day for 20 weeks was also found to relieve the symptoms of dermatitis. This is especially true with the itching associated with the condition.
Some believe that the oil may also help relieve shingles, which is one type of rash. Anecdotal evidence suggests that hemp oil may reduce the inflammation and even protect the nerve cells (that are usually attacked in this condition). Consuming hemp oil could help you deal with the symptoms of pain, though more research is needed here.
But since each case of shingles could be unique, we suggest you talk to your doctor and take their advice on the way you need to use hemp oil to treat your condition. There also is limited research in this area. Hence, talking to your doctor should help.
Hemp seed oil may also be used to prevent sunburns. Some believe adding zinc oxide to the oil can boost its SPF rating (from a rating of 6). However, there is no research to support this. The oil could be one great way to soothe a sunburn as it is believed to protect the delicate layers of the skin.