Eggplant For Healthy Aging

Aubergine (eggplant) is a vegetable with many benefits.  High in fiber but low in calories and fat, it contains an antioxidant which is beneficial for the brain. Vitamins B 1 and B6 as well as potassium, manganese, magnesium and copper are components as well.

Eggplant is an anti-cancer, anti-cholesterol vegetable due to substances which fight free radicals in the body.  However, when eaten in great amounts, it can increase joint pains in the body when arthritis is present, or influence gall bladder problems and activate stones due to the high level of oxalates.

On the whole eggplant is a very nutritious and valuable health-promoting food.

An easy way to prepare eggplant and to give them a taste of Provence is to cook slices on the barbeque. Simply slice the eggplant lengthwise into slices. Place them on the barbeque for about five minutes, turning them over once. Put them on a platter and dribble a bit of olive oil over them. It is a tasty way to enjoy healthy eggplant for healthy ageing.

Grandma Nature

The sweet potato, this wonderful elongated orange vegetable, is such a treat to eat.  It is not necessary, as the custom dictates, to add even more sweet ingredients like marshmallows, maple syrup and brown sugar.

Sweet potatoes are a powerhouse of healthy eating just consumed on their own.  The orange color, of course, indicates that the sweet potato is full of beta-carotene.  This nutrient with its antioxidant properties is converted into vitamin A, so important in linking it to a lower risk of cancer, especially lung cancer.

Cardio-vascular disease is also improved when eating this food. The sweet potato is also beneficial for the eyes, helping to improve eye disease such as macular degeneration because of the lutin that it contains.  In addition, it is loaded with cholesterol-lowering fiber and has a lot of potassium as well, so necessary in lowering blood pressure.

Sweet potatoes are only distantly related to the white potato but they are just as easy to prepare and bring so much more to the body.

Add sweet potatoes around a roast to add taste and nutrition to your meal.  Use your imagination and prepare them in the same way as you would white potatoes. – Remembering that the health benefits are much greater.

Grandma Nature

We have been hearing much about beta-carotene these days.  What is it exactly?  No, it is not a carrot!  It is an antioxidant found in foods which seem to reduce cancer development and heart disease.  Carrots do contain a large quantity of beta-carotene as do other yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables.  One thinks of orange when seeing the word carotene, and yet the antioxidant is found in great quantities in dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and Swiss Chard as well.

Studies have shown that for the beta-carotene to be most effective it must be cooked or cut into small pieces.  Some fat should be added when preparing the food in order for the beta-carotene to be assimilated in the body.  Other foods with high amounts are carrot juice, pumpkin, sweet potato, kale, beet greens, cantaloupe and red peppers.

Beta-carotene is converted in the body into vitamin A, which is necessary for good vision and the immune system.  It has an important function in helping to prevent lung cancer.    Enjoying these vegetables and fruits will not only provide a delicious meal but will keep you fit and healthy.

Grandma Nature

Is it a fruit or a vegetable?  Actually, the pear-shaped avocado is a green tropical fruit.

However, it is not sweet but full of fat – good fat. That is why it is so valuable in preventing cardio-vascular disease; it benefits arteries and lowers cholesterol.  A powerful antioxidant, glutathione, which is an important source found in the avocado, is shown to block the onset of many carcinogens. And the avocado is rich in vitamins E and B as well as potassium, magnesium and amino acids.

Avocado is used in face creams and bath products because it renders the skin soft and smooth.

On the culinary side, it is adaptable to salads, as a dip, or as a dessert when sugar is an ingredient in the recipe.

Tip: If prepared in advance for a dip and it may become brown. Keep the pit in the avocado, and it should remain green.  Lemon or lime juice will also help.

Grandma Nature