Health Benefits of Eating Walnuts

Photo credit: taken from yahoo.com

Have you ever wondered why a walnut looks like a very tiny-scale model of human brain? Here's the wonder of nature coming in; walnuts are brain food. It is rich in omega-fatty acid that is a good nutrient for the brain. It helps boost memory and cognitive function.

Aside from being a good brain food, it is also rich in plant-based protein and other vitamins and minerals which are all good for our body.

Walnuts also help in lowering bad cholesterol because of the presence of omega-fatty acids. It helps in heart health and also is rich in fibre so if you are into weight management, eating walnuts help you feel fuller. And the fibre also aids in your digestive tract.

Selenium, zinc and biotin are also present in walnuts so it helps in promoting healthy, shiny hair.

So, start infusing walnuts in your meal plans. You can use walnut oils in your salads or dressings to ensure you get the health benefits of walnuts. You can also snack on it rather than buying processed treats which are full of calories with no good nutrients to provide your system. Choose walnuts instead!

Foods That Boost Your Eye Health

We tend to overlook one of the important senses we have been given - our eyesight. A lot of the younger generation now are wearing spectacle for poor vision caused by eye-strain due to prolonged looking at TVs, smart phones, gadgets, etc.

For the lucky ones who are still not wearing glasses because of their good eyesight, we can improve our eye health more by eating foods that are good for our eyesight. Here are some food we can include in our daily meals so we can get enough Vitamins A, E and D, lutein (an antioxidant which helps in preventing macular degeneration and cataracts), zeaxanthin (another form of antioxidant),  zinc (a mineral that helps the body produce melanin which protects our eyes from the harmful effects of UV light), omega-3 fatty acids,

carrots

egg

kale

milk

oyster

salmon

sunflower

(photo credit: ivillage.com)

Foods To Eat For a Healthy Kidney And Liver

The kidneys and liver are important organs of the body. They act as filters for vital minerals required by the overall health and body system. These organs also eliminate toxins to ensure that the body are free from harmful radicals.

To help us keep our liver and kidneys healthy, it is important to take have a healthy diet. Here are foods to eat to help the kidneys and liver remain healthy even as we age:

• Fruits high in antioxidants and fibre such as apples, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.

• Eat food rich in omega-fatty acid which have anti-inflammatory properties and a good source of healthy fats like salmon and egg whites.

• Use olive oil instead of other oil when cooking your food. Olive oil is high in omega-3 fatty acid which is good cholesterol.

• Include vegetables such as bell peppers, cabbage, garlic and onions in your staple as they are great renal foods.

Ways To Prevent Loss of Vision

Our sense of seeing is probably one of the most important senses we are trying to protect and preserve as much as we can. However, not everyone has been blessed with a good eyesight. I am really lucky (and much of it must be credited for eating the right food and not straining my eyes) to have 20/20 even in my early 40s. My daughter who is only 15 is already wearing a prescription glasses which goes higher and higher each year.

So, how do we prevent the degeneration of healthy cells in our eyes? Take note of these tips and prevent  vision loss and macular degeneration.

• Take multi-vitamin with B6, folic acid, and B12, Vitamin C and E and zinc.
• Take DHA omega-3 fatty acids supplement. If not, include omega-3 fatty acid rich food in your daily meal like salmon and avocado.
• If you are on the heavy side, loss weight as people with high LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides and those with high blood pressure are linked to macular degeneration.
• Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits especially those rich in beta-carotene like carrots, lutein and zeaxanthin.
• Quit smoking as smoker have higher risk of developing macular degeneration.
• Exercise and be active as this help nourish your retina with enough intake of oxygen.
• Do not stare on your computer's monitor, TV, portable game consoles or any small device that can strain your eyes.
• If you have a desk job which involves long hours of computer usage, try to gaze away from your monitor every 20 minutes and look at greeneries or cool colors like pastel ones to sooth your eyes.

Chia Seeds - Small Seed With A Punch of Health Benefits

Chia seeds are slightly smaller than the sesame seeds. It is also known as Salvia Hispanica which is a part of the mint family, the Lamiacaea which is native to Guatemala and Mexico.

This tiny seed is cultivated for commercial use because of its high level of nutritional value. It has calcium, protein, manganese and phosphorus. Aside from the nutrients, it also has plenty of health benefits like:

• It is a good source of plant's Omega fatty acid oil. 
• It is hydrophilic which means, it absorbs more water than their weight making you feel fuller. This is great for athletes as it helps them stay hydrated.
• It aids in weight loss for dieters as chia seeds have the ability to block calories in our digestive system because it gels. And when it gels, it helps in blocking absorption of calories.
• It also provides antioxidant properties.