Antioxidant Rich Food : Blueberries

 Blueberries

 

This fruit is packed with antioxidants and can, like walnuts, be extremely helpful when it comes to heart health. They can balance blood sugar levels and are considered a diabetic medicine. Berries, especially blackberries, blueberries and raspberries, top the list of impressive antioxidant sources. Eat them raw and they are such a concentrated source that you get a potent dose in every handful!

Antioxidant Rich Food : Pinto Beans

Pinto Beans

 

Although they may seem unlikely to make the list, pinto beans are actually full of antioxidants and very high in fiber.  It is estimated 8 lbs. of beans are consumed each year per person, as pinto beans and navy beans are the most popular. They are very beneficial to our digestive health.

Antioxidant Rich Food: Blackberries

Blackberries

 

Blackberries are considered to be one of the highest antioxidant-level fruits. Blackberries are high in ellagic acid, vitamin C, and fiber, which both have been show to help reduce the risks of certain cancers. It is recommended to include a few ounces of blackberries in our daily breakfast diet.

Antioxidant Rich Food : Small Red Beans

 

Surprisingly, small red beans round up the top 10 best antioxidant-rich foods. The USDA says the seed coat of the red kidney bean, which contains the color of the bean, is high in antioxidants. These beans are smaller than kidney beans and are shaped like pintos. They are known to be very beneficial to bones and teeth, and even lower the risk of heart attacks.

 

To boost your antioxidant intake, simply reach for more fruits and vegetables over supplements.

Health benefits of gooseberries

Health benefits of gooseberries

• Gooseberries are low in calories; 100 g of fresh berries hold just 44 calories. As in blackcurrants, they too have significantly high amounts of phenolic phytochemicals, especially flavones and anthocyanins. Both of these compounds have been found to have numerous health-benefiting effects against cancer, aging, inflammation, and neurological diseases.
• They moderately good in anti-oxidant values. At 3277 umol TE/100g, gooseberries have oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value, which can be comparable to that of red currants (3387umol TE/100g).
• The berries are a moderate source of vitamin-C. 100 g of fresh berries provide 27.7 mcg or 46% of daily-recommended intake values of vitamin C. Research studies have shown that consumption of fruits rich in vitamin-C helps body develop immunity against infectious agents, and help scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals from the body.
• They carry a small amount of vitamin-A. 100 g berries has 290 IU or 10 % of RDA of this vitamin. Vitamin A is required for maintaining integrity of mucusa and skin and essential component of visual cycle. In addition, consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamins and flavonoid anti-oxidants has been found to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• Fresh berries contain small amounts of essential vitamins such as pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), folates, and thiamin (vitamin B-1). Some of these vitamins are essential in the sense that the body requires them for metabolism from external sources to replenish.
• Furthermore, gooseberries contain moderate levels of minerals such as copper, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, and potassium.
• Indian gooseberries (amla) are exceptionally rich in vitamin C. 100 g of amla carry astoundingly 445 mg of vitamin-C. However, their much of anti-oxidant properties come from other anti-oxidant compounds in them like tannins (emblicanin, punigluconin, pedunculagin etc).

Gooseberries : Preparation and serving methods

Preparation and serving methods

Gooseberries are one of the popular fruits all over the Great Britain. Berries handpicked form the wild can be consumed on their own.
At home, wash them in cold water. Trim off stems. Fresh berries can be eaten on their own without much preparation as they are just like currants, grapes etc.
Here are some serving tips:

• Fresh, succulent, sweet gooseberries can be eaten all alone as table fruits/salads, especially some varieties like red-London, purple, early sulphur, etc.
• Tart, astringent quality berries are favored in fish, poultry, and meat dishes.
• They are used in agro-food industry to prepare jam, jellies, juice, sauce, chutney, etc.
• The berries are also used in muffins, pie-fillings, and ice creams.

High Blood pressure : Acohol

“alcohol”

When it comes to high blood pressure, alcohol is a double-edged sword. Small to moderate amounts of alcohol may actually lower your blood pressure, but drinking too much alcohol can increase your blood pressure, even for people who only drink occasionally. Having more than three drinks in one sitting can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure. Repeated drinking can lead to long-term blood pressure problems.

 

Alcohol can prevent any blood pressure medications you may be taking from working effectively. In addition, alcohol is full of calories and can lead to weight gain. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to have high blood pressure.