The Beet SaladWhile researching, I found so many vegetables that go beyond providing vitamins and roughage for our bodies. These vegetables actually have healing properties. Vegetables unlike fruits, do not quickly turn to simple sugars. They are complex carbohydrates, which means the body expends energy to digest them. Since I am not writing a book but an article, I have only taken some of the more popular vegetables, not only from the West but also from the East.
Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, bak choy all have a compound that removes aggressive estrogens in the body. The significance is that studies have shown that aggressive estrogens causes cancer, especially, breast, prostate, colon and lung cancers. Some studies have shown that these veggies strengthen your immune system.
Beets are excellent for anaemia, constipation and reducing obesity. Cucumbers decreases blood pressure, skin conditions and emphysema. Celery, too reduces blood pressure. However , it is not recommended eating celery before or right after vigorous exercises.
Chili peppers helps dissolve blood clots, open sinuses, acts as a decongestant and expectorant. It also speeds up metabolism which burns up calories. Chili peppers contains capsicum which is used as a topical drug to relieve pain.
Pumpkin has properties to prevent heart attack and cataracts.
Bitter Melon or Bitter Gourd
Bitter Melon or Bitter Gourd was long known in Asia for decreasing blood sugars and insulin levels, especially for people with Diabetes Type 2
Okra or Ladies Fingers, Gumbo (US), (Bendi in Malay) is another vegetable that stabilized blood sugars. Okra’s mucilage binds cholesterol and bilious acids, carrying the toxins and giving it easy passage out of the body. It acts like psyllium and flax but is much easier to swallow. Have you tried any of the gumbo dishes, like chicken or shrimp gumbo , they are delicious.
In South East Asia, mushrooms are considered a heart medication. Dried matake or shitake, when consumed regularly was shown in a study to decrease cholesterol levels by 7% to 12%. Dried mushrooms takes a longer time to prepare. Usually used in soups and flavorful.
Sea vegetables mostly in the form of seaweeds. A study showed very low breast cancer rates among women living of a Japanese island whose regular diet included kombu ( a seaweed), which is harvested there for domestic and world distribution. Sea weeds help with thyroid prevention and hypertension.
The recommended serving of vegetable in most food guides is 5 to 6 servings a day. So with your normal size dinner plate - half of the plate should be filled with vegetables, the other half divided into 2 with one side for your bread/rice/pasta and the other with your protein. In order to get the maximum effect of these vegetables, Do Not overcook them or deep fry them. If you need any simple recipes, please contact me.
Copyright/P Nicholas
