You are what you eat

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You are what you eat

Friday, 13 August 2021 | Rubaina Adhikari

You are what you eat

Rubaina Adhikari elaborates on how eating a nutritious diet heals each part of your body

American inventor and businessman, Thomas Edison, once asserted, “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent the disease with nutrition.” And it seems like his prophecy is, slowly but surely, coming to fruition.

Undoubtedly, the idea that nutritious food is the pillar of good health has been around since the days of yore. It’s indeed true that the food we eat every day influences how our bodies work, how we mend and develop ourselves, and how we keep up with energy and strength for the years to come. A healthy diet, fundamental for our well-being and development, can take on different forms for different people. But making sure which food items explicitly benefit which body part can do wonders to help you remain in the pink of your health. Here’s a guide to how eating a nutritious diet heals different parts of your body.

Body part: EyesFood: Sunflower seeds and nuts, raw red peppers, sweet potatoes, eggs, broccoli and brussels sprouts

Benefit: While bell peppers give you the most vitamin C per calorie, which is good for the veins in your eyes; an ounce of sunflower seeds, almonds, or hazelnuts have enough vitamin E, which may prevent cataracts. Yellow, orange-coloured food items — including sweet potatoes, eggs, carrots, apricots — are high in beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A. It helps you with night vision. These coloured compounds block harmful blue rays from damaging your retina. And when it comes to broccoli, brussels sprouts and related veggies, they have an amazing, winning combination of all the three nutrients — vitamin A, C, and E.

Body part: HeartFood: Leafy greens, avocados, fish oil, walnuts and tomatoes

Benefit: While studies have found that intaking more leafy green vegetables lower the risk of many heart diseases; tomatoes are high on lycopene, a natural red pigment with powerful antioxidants, that help prevent heart disorders. It has been found that low blood levels of lycopene are linked to an increased risk of heart strokes. Coming to avocados, which are loaded with potassium, one of the most important nutrients that are essential to our heart health. Did you know a single avocado can supply approximately 28 per cent of the nutrients you need in a day? Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil has been recommended by WHO for the health of your heart. It has been proven that multiple risk factors for heart disease have been reduced by the consumption of fish or fish oil.

Body part: Liver Food: Coffee, tea, olive oil and oatmeal

Benefit: Tea and coffee are widely considered to promote liver health. Studies have found that they improve blood markers of liver health and protect the organ even in people who already are suffering from liver issues. While coffee is even associated with a lower death risk in those with chronic liver problems; tea, particularly green, improves liver enzyme levels and may also help reduce fat deposits in the organ. Olive oil too has been found to have similar effects. Given its positive effects on the liver, olive oil is a valuable part of a healthy diet.

Body part: Kidney Food: Cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, apple and egg whites

Benefit: While cabbage is rich in vitamin K, C, B6 and folic acid, a great addition to the dialysis diet; cauliflower is a good source of folate and fibre. The latter is packed with a range of nutrients that don’t provide too much sodium, potassium or phosphorous, leaving the right amount of them in the body. Cauliflower is an excellent source of anti-inflammatory compounds such as indoles, which are known to stimulate detoxifying enzymes. Individuals with kidney issues are advised to restrict the amount of sodium, including added salt. Garlic is a delightful alternative to salt, adding flavour to delicacies while, at the same time, giving dietary advantages.

Summing up

Don’t wait until it comes to the point that you have to go to a doctor with your body issues. Rather take your well-being into your own hands and eat healthily. After all, how much you value your health is evident by the choices you make.

(The author is the director of Happii Digital and Broadcasting Network Pvt Ltd, the content production and digital initiative of SAB group, and a wellness influencer.)

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