We are living in a time and age when we need to take extra care of our bodies because they have never been more under-nourished and over-stressed. Let’s take a look at how eating certain foods together can help you get in shape and stay healthy.
Oatmeal with Orange Juice
A study by the Antioxidant Research Lab (USDA) shows that drinking vitamin-C rich orange juice in combination with eating a bowl of oatmeal is two times more effective in cleansing your arteries and preventing heart attacks than when you eat either breakfast item alone. The study shows that the organic compounds in orange juice and oatmeal help stabilize LDL (bad) cholesterol when consumed together.
Broccoli and Tomatoes
A study at the University of Illinois shows that consuming broccoli and tomatoes together may prevent prostate cancer.
Fruit Salad
Eating a variety of fruits together provides more health benefits than just eating one type of fruit. The antioxidant effects of consuming a combination of fruits are synergistic. A study conducted at Cornell University Department of Food Science found greater antioxidant response when a mixture of fruits was consumed compared to fruits consumed individually. According to the study, no single antioxidant can replace the combination of natural phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables.
Apple and Chocolate
Apples are high in quercetin, an anti-inflammatory flavonoid that is effective in reducing the risk of allergies, heart disease, prostate and lung cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Chocolate contains another flavonoid called catechin, and it is effective in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and cancer. Together, quercetin and catechin form a combination that helps loosen clumpy blood platelets, stimulates anticoagulant properties and improves cardiovascular health.
By Rosalidia Dubon
