Variety comparisons and diverse culinary forms, such as juices or dried extracts, determine the nutritional value and physiological impact of plant-based diets on systemic health.
You may have heard your mother say, “Eat your vegetables!” or “Have some fruit!” when you were growing up. Studies show that most Americans eat too few fruits and vegetables, according to Kathleen Mahan and Sylvia Escott-Stump in “Krause’s Food, Nutrition & Diet Therapy.
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Fresh cranberries can be found readily in grocery stores around the holidays. If you want to make a cranberry recipe at any other time of year, you have to use frozen or dried cranberries instead. Dried cranberries are high in vitamin C and phytochemicals that help prevent urinary tract infections.
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Nuts are the fruit of its tree, and it can be likened to a legume vegetable due to its high-protein content.
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Blueberries are small fruits, but they contain a lot of power to help you do the big job of managing diabetes.
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Corn tortilla chips, which are often served as an appetizer to Mexican food, are typically made with only three ingredients: corn, vegetable oil and salt. As a result, the nutrients in corn chips are basically a combination of those in oil and corn.
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Delicata squash, also sometimes known as sweet potato squash or Bohemian squash, features yellow skin with green stripes on an oblong shape.
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Steaming softens vegetables while maintaining most of their nutrients, especially water-soluble compounds that are easily damaged by heat.
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Oyster mushrooms have been used for thousands of years as a culinary and medicinal ingredient. The white mushrooms resemble oysters, and can be found growing in the wild on dead trees or fallen logs.
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Consuming vegetables is vital to a healthy, balanced diet. In some cases, if you regularly eat these foods, you may reduce the risk of certain chronic disease, notes the USDA.
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In-season vegetables add a garden-fresh flavor and texture to your meals and snacks, but during the off-season prices of fresh produce can put a strain on your wallet. According to the USDA's ChooseMyPlate website, adults should eat between 2 and 3 cups of vegetables each day.
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Do not underestimate the power of having cruciferous vegetables as part of your diet. Cruciferous vegetables contain powerful antioxidants, which may decrease inflammation and reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases.
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Including more fruits in your diet can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Most healthy adults need 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit a day.
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Kiwifruits, or kiwi, is an edible berry about the size of a chicken egg. It features a fuzzy peel that surrounds a green fruit with black seeds and a creamy white center. Kiwis taste slightly sweet and tangy with a creamy texture.
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Diverticulosis is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that affects 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 40, and half of those over 60 years of age. Diverticulosis represents the chronic phase of diverticular disease and diverticulitis is the acute inflammatory phase of diverticular disease.
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When oranges were first cultivated, orange peels were highly valued. People extracted essential oils from the peels to use in medicines and remedies for indigestion and other illnesses. Orange peels are a source of health-promoting carbohydrates.
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Food battles range from who makes the better slice of New York thin crust pizza to who has the hotter chicken wings. In the battle of oranges versus grapefruit, there are no real losers, as Harvard School of Public Health recommends people obtain nine servings or 4 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables daily.
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Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, dietary fiber and potassium. With the right toppings, a baked sweet potatoes can be a healthy alternative to sweet potato casserole or pie made with sugar and butter. You can have baked sweet potatoes as a side dish, as a component of a main course or for a snack.
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Starch is a carbohydrate found in many foods. It is a white and tasteless substance that can be processed to make numerous products, some of which are sugars, thickeners for foods such as corn starch, and laundry starch. In potatoes, starch is abundant and makes for a good staple food.
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Cranberries are not only a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C, but they also contain an assortment of phytonutrients, compounds that contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Goji berries, a fruit that comes from the Chinese Lycium barbarum plant, have been used as a traditional medicine for general health, and recent studies suggest there is real evidence for its purported benefits.
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