Foods That Prevent Illness

As time goes on, most of us are becoming so used to eating "junk food" that soon we won't even remmember what's healthy anymore. Most of us forget that the fruits and vegetables we're supposed to be eating can prevent us from having so many illnesses, some of which are being caused by the "junk food" that we eat every day. If you think about it, fruits and vegetables are more than important. They help us live longer, unlike these other foods that are not so healthy and cause illness. It also increases our chances of premature death.




Not eating enough fruits and vegetables is a major risk factor, in itself, for heart attacks and premature death. The U.S Department of Healthand Human Services and he Department of Agriculture recomended eight servings a day. The higher intake of fruits and vegetables helps orevent coronary heart disease. Some nurses at Harvard School of Public Health served one serving of beans per day instead of one serving of redmeat and they found thatit lower's a woman's long-term heart-disease risk by about 33%. You might be thinking it's not all that fun eating vegetables every day but ther are many ways you can enjoy your vegetables and still have a great meal. You could even camouflage them and add them to breads, cakes, muffins, lasanga, rice, pizza, quiche, scrambled egg or tofu.

Some fruits are known to have benefits to the body. Now there is one more super hand and is known to prevent cancer, the Papaya fruit. Papaya is one fruit that contains lycophene, known as a substance that is highly effective in preventing and combating the spread of cancer cells. A recent study found that levels of lycophene stimulates cells in the body's defense against cancer. This can also prevent DNA damage. Ppapaya is effective a san anti-inflammatory agents against cance rsuch as cervical, breast, liver, lungs and pancreas. This fruit is known to boost the chemicals that regulate the immune system. Other foods that also have lycophene are brocoli, apricot, carrots, prunes, cherries, watermelon an dleafy green vegetables.


Eating curry once or twice a week can help prevent Alzheimer's. Some are investigating if it can be used as a treatment for those who already have it and testing it on them. Curry has a yellow pigment called curcumin, which can stop the spread of plaques found in the brain that cuase this condition. Researchers are still investigating if curcumin could counteract some of the brain changes that are characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Susanne Sorensen, Head of Research at the Alzheimer's Society, states that the "Indian communities that regularly eat curcumin have a surprinsingly low incidence of Alzheimer's disease but we don't really know why".

There are many that help our bodies just like the ones mentioned. We can all enjoy eating fast foods and sweets once in a while, but it's always important to keep a balance.