Much has already been said about what foods should be present in the diet of those who strive to eat properly and in a balanced manner, what their total caloric content should be, etc.
However, some fruits, vegetables, and protein products can bring even more health benefits if you choose the right "partner" for them. Let's talk about tasty and healthy "tandems" in more detail.
Are you making a fruit salad and adding a juicy ripe apple to it? This fruit is rich in vitamins and a substance that helps prevent cancer - quercetin. But this antioxidant will work even more effectively if you add a special element to it - ellagic acid.
Where is it found? In raspberries, walnuts, pomegranate seeds. Therefore, it is reasonable to supplement dishes that contain apples with chopped nuts, pomegranate seeds or pomegranate sauce, as well as raspberries, if the recipe allows it.
Do you like eating soba noodles? This product is good for the heart because it contains rutin, which is also an antioxidant, but it prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels. And vitamin C can enhance its beneficial effect.
Since it seems strange to add citrus to noodles, try cooking soba with broccoli pieces next time: this cabbage also has a sufficient amount of vitamin C. When steamed, rutin and vitamin C will prolong the health of your cardiovascular system.
Feeling fatigued and tests revealing iron deficiency? If this deficiency can be compensated for by adding certain foods to your diet, focus on legumes.
For example, chickpeas can be an effective supplier of iron to cells and tissues. And to ensure that the iron you receive is absorbed more fully, add a little onion or garlic to boiled chickpeas or soup with this ingredient. What will this give you?
Sulfur compounds, which are rich in onions and garlic, improve the bioavailability of iron, and it is absorbed by the body much better.
In our body, various inflammatory processes occur every now and then, and in the absence of a proper immune response, they can cause the development of many diseases, including cancer. How can these inflammatory processes be prevented or suppressed?
It's quite simple: there is tofu, which contains a special compound called genistein, which is designed to slow down internal inflammation. And to make it work more effectively, the hot substance capsaicin, which is contained in chili peppers, will answer.
Therefore, tofu should be supplemented with hot sauces - both for the taste and for the health benefits. Of course, hardly anyone would dare to eat soy curd with hot pepper every day, but once a week you can indulge in such a gastronomic treat.
Finally, many of us drink green tea, hoping to get a boost of antioxidants from this drink, which are beneficial for the heart and brain.
Yes, green tea is rich in them, but in order for these antioxidants to actually benefit the heart muscle and not be destroyed by digestive juices, it is advisable to drink green tea with a slice of lemon or slightly acidify it with lemon juice right in the cup. You will get a refreshing, thirst-quenching drink that helps maintain the heart in order.
