Nutrition Information |
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Benefits of a Variety of Fruits and Vegetables
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruit and vegetables everyday. Actually now, to prevent cancer, 8 to 13 servings per day are recommended. A serving is one cup of raw fruits or vegetables, or � cup cooked. At a recent lecture I asked a lunch audience to raise their hand if they had at least one fruit or vegetable already that day. No one in that group raised their hand. This is not uncommon. Our processed and convenience foods contain very few fruits and vegetables. To prevent chronic diseases, fruits and especially vegetables are very important. Vegetables especially have the antioxidants, minerals, and phytochemicals in the correct combination that help keep the blood sugar in balance, create better energy in the body, and along with fruits build up the immune system. Each color found in fruits and vegetables focus on building the immune system in its own way. It is important to get a variety of colors, so that you will get a full range of phytochemicals (beneficial plant chemicals) in your daily diet. Research is finding that eating whole fruits and vegetables gives you many more nutrients than you could possible add to a vitamin and mineral supplement. There are over 12,000 phytochemicals, and I have yet to see a supplement, unless it has whole fruits and vegetables in it, have all of the 180 different vitamins or minerals that are required by our body to function daily. The different colors in fruits and vegetables help our immune system react to different stresses in our daily life. So look at the different colors in your diet. See if they include each of the colors listed below. This is one way to know that you are getting the full benefit of nutrients possible in your diet. Green Foods - broccoli, kale, leaf and romaine lettuce, spinach, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Green foods are especially good for the circulatory system. They contain many minerals and B-complex vitamins. Some phytochemicals found in green foods are sulforaphane and indoles that are very powerful anti-cancer compounds. Researchers have tried to use these as isolated phytochemicals but find that they only work while in the whole food form. Red Foods - tomatoes, watermelon, red cabbage. Red foods contain many phytochemicals that reduce free radical damage. The phytochemical called lycopene is especially helpful to prevent prostate problems, and reduce the effects of sun damage on the skin. Lycopene is the phytochemical that make the red foods get their red color. Orange Foods - carrots, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, apricots, cantaloupe. The orange foods have the carotenoids the help prevent cancer by repairing the DNA. As our mothers told us, carrots, and other orange foods, are especially good for our eyes, and help with night vision. The deep orange foods help our bodies get the vitamin A we need, without getting excess that can lead to osteoporosis. Green/Yellow Foods - yellow corn, green peas, collard greens, avocado and honeydew melon. This combination of green and yellow foods contains the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin that help reduce the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. These foods are also helpful in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Orange /Yellow Foods - oranges, pineapple, tangerines, peaches, papaya, nectarines These foods that are orange and yellow in color are high in antioxidants, especially Vitamin C, and help to improve the health of the mucus membranes and connective tissue. They help prevent heart disease by improving circulation and preventing inflammation. White/Green Foods - onions, garlic, celery, pears, chives White and green combination foods contain a variety of phytochemicals. Garlic and onions contain allicin, the anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal phytochemical, and they can act as a poor man's antibiotic. Add garlic and onions in your meals to reduce the effects of potential toxicity of high fat meats. Celery has many minerals, especially organic sodium, that keeps the fluid in the joints healthy. Red/Blue/Purple Foods - red apples, beets, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, prunes, concord grapes, blackberries. These dark colored red/blue/purple foods are very rich in powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins that protect again heart disease by improving circulation and preventing blood clots. They have many anti-aging phytochemicals that keep the blood circulating reducing the effects of the Standard American Diet rich in trans fats and processed foods. When you make a salad make sure you have a variety of different colors. Strive to get at least 5 colors on your plate. Use fruits to balance the rest of the colors needed. This way you will get closer to the 8 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables required, and you will get the variety of nutrients you need daily. Jane Oelke, N.D., Ph.D. is a Traditional Naturopath and Doctor of Homeopathy in southwest Michigan. She is the author of "Natural Choices for Fibromyalgia" and "Natural Choices for Attention Deficit Disorder." She is a professional speaker on natural health topics. She can be contacted at [email protected] or through her website at http://www.NaturalChoicesForYou.com
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MORE RESOURCES: Vacation Rentals Ordinances to take effect in parts of Monterey County on Monday - King City Rustler Vacation rentals still allowed in Anna Maria The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper Biggest vacation rental gotchas to avoid this holiday season The Seattle Times Floridians cleaning up from Hurricane Milton are hampered by a widespread fuel shortage The Daily Gazette Short-term rental listings in Butler County like AirBNB, VRBO increase 77% in past year Hamilton Journal News Tripadvisor Shutters Vacation Rental Direct Bookings in Favor of Third-Party Providers Skift Travel News Wildly Wacky Colorado 'Wonder Haus' Is Listed for $2.25 Million—After Appearing on Netflix's 'World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals' Beaumont Enterprise The evolution of the vacation rental industry London Daily News Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks about Anna Maria Island vacation rental conundrum Sarasota Herald-Tribune Floridians evacuated for Hurricane Milton after wake-up call from devastating Helene Yankton Daily Press Holmes Beach enacts vacation rental moratorium The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper Citing housing crisis, Santa Cruz County supervisors take aim at vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz Business Report: August vacation rentals Hawaii News Now 'Poltergeist' House Is Transforming Into An Airbnb Rental, Replicating The Film’s Iconic Set Travel Noire Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis The Associated Press Costa Rica Sees Increased Interest as Relocation Destination Amid Vacation Rental and Tourism Growth EIN News Vacation Rentals Florida Trend 'It's pervasive': Palm Coast locals say vacation rentals have become their nightmare in paradise Palm Coast Observer and Ormond Beach Observer Vacation rentals among new offerings along Columbia River | Provided by Crescent Ridge The Seattle Times New study finds 1 in 12 vacation rentals have hidden cameras ConsumerAffairs Help! My $1,988 Spring Break Rental Was Canceled at the Last Minute. The New York Times Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill that gave state more authority Tallahassee Democrat Maui County’s vacation rentals at 49.3% occupancy in June, down double-digits from last year Maui Now DeSantis vetoes short-term vacation rental bill Florida Phoenix Vacation Rentals: How to Shrink Your Carbon Footprint The New York Times Gov. DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill News 13 Orlando Vacasa Lost 9% of Its Vacation Rentals in the Last Year, Doesn’t See Profitability in 2024 Skift Travel News Mount Hood estate seen in Netflix’s ‘The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals’ is for sale OregonLive Want a Bargain on Your Beach House Rental? These Are the Cheapest—and Priciest—Months Realtor.com News Green Bay area Airbnb NFL draft prices have started to moderate. Why that's a good thing Green Bay Press Gazette It's Time to Plan Your Summer Vacation—Here Are 100+ Top Rentals Around the World Condé Nast Traveler Letter: Vacation rental vs. low to middle-class housing | Opinion Newport News Times Honolulu Has Been Fighting Over Illegal Vacation Rentals Since The 1970s Honolulu Civil Beat Newsom signs consumer protection bills on vacation rentals, overdraft fees and credit scores Capital Public Radio News Vacation Rentals and Luxury Trips: Travel Startups Raise $106 Million Skift Travel News Lee Cataluna: Phasing Out 7,000 Vacation Rentals On Maui Would Be A Sea Change - Honolulu Civil Beat Lee Cataluna: Phasing Out 7,000 Vacation Rentals On Maui Would Be A Sea Change Honolulu Civil Beat Indian Rocks Beach prepares for legal fight after rejecting vacation rental compromise ABC Action News Tampa Bay Costa Rica’s Rising Star: A Blend of Tourism and Relocation Opportunities Travel And Tour World Can you still get a rental this summer on Cape Cod? 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Cape Cod Times West Michigan beachfront town works to ban short-term vacation rentals Detroit Free Press Amid housing crisis, Maui commission votes to phase out thousands of short-term rentals Hawaii News Now Buckingham Vacation Rentals Visit Lake Tahoe Maui Council Budgets $300,000 To Study Impacts Of Eliminating 7,000 Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Vacation Rental Prices Come Down From Pandemic High The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News Challenges For Hotels, Gains For Short-Term Rentals – 3 Charts Skift Travel News Short-Term Dwelling and Vacation Rental Licensing Boulder County (.gov) Vacation rental crackdown may lower condo prices in Maui County University of Hawaii System Hawaii’s vacation rentals total nearly 6% of housing supply Hawaii Tribune-Herald New era of policing vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County pushes complaints, violations into public view Lookout Santa Cruz Hidden cost of vacation rentals skyrockets property taxes for hundreds of local homeowners ActionNewsJax.com How to Avoid Paying Vacation Rental Fees The New York Times Counties differ in approach to regulating vacation rentals West Hawaii Today Maui County weighs phasing out vacation rentals West Hawaii Today Amid housing crisis, Maui commission considers phasing out thousands of vacation rentals Hawaii News Now Park District forced to end vacation rentals at historic Belle Baldwin house Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Indian Rocks Beach poised to battle in court after scrapping proposed changes to vacation rentals WTSP.com A Statewide Ban On Vacation Rentals? The Idea Is Gaining Steam After The Maui Fires Honolulu Civil Beat Maps of vacation rentals in San Diego are fueling a fiery debate about the city's housing crisis — here's why Yahoo Finance Best Mattress for Vacation Rentals (2024) Mattress Clarity Vacation rental bill divided lawmakers. Now it's drawing calls for DeSantis to veto it Tallahassee Democrat The Little-Known Vacation Rental Near Cocolalla Lake In Idaho That’ll Be Your New Favorite Destination Only In Your State Governor signs measure giving counties authority to convert vacation rentals into housing Hawaii News Now |
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