CARROTS EYES

SLICE a carrot and it looks just like an eye, right down to the pattern of the iris. Its a clear clue

to the importance this everyday veg has for vision. Carrots get their orange color from a plant

chemical called beta carotene, which reduces the risk of developing cataracts. The chemical also

protects against macular degeneration an age-related sight problem that affects one in four

over-65s. It is the most common cause of blindness in Britain. But popping a beta carotene pill

doesn’t have the same effect, say scientists at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WALNUT BRAIN

THE gnarled folds of a walnut mimic the appearance of a human brain – and provide a clue to

the benefits. Walnuts are the only nuts which contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

They may also help head off dementia. An American study found that walnut extract broke down

the protein-based plaques associated with Alzheimers disease. Researchers at Tufts University

in Boston found walnuts reversed some signs of brain ageing in rats. Dr James Joseph, who

headed the study, said walnuts also appear to enhance signalling within the brain and

encourage new messaging links between brain cells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOMATO HEART

A TOMATO is red and usually has four chambers, just like our heart. Tomatoes are

also a great source of lycopene, a plant chemical that reduces the risk of heart disease

and several cancers. The Women’s Health Study ? an American research program which

tracks the health of 40,000 women ? found women with the highest blood levels of lycopene

had 30 per cent less heart disease than women who had very little lycopene. Lab experiments

have also shown that lycopene helps counter the effect of unhealthy LDL cholesterol. One

Canadian study, published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, said there was

convincing evidence that lycopene prevented coronary heart disease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAPES LUNGS

OUR lungs are made up of branches of ever-smaller airways that finish up with tiny bunches

of tissue called alveoli. These structures, which resemble bunches of grapes, allow oxygen to

pass from the lungs to the blood stream. One reason that very premature babies struggle to

survive is that these alveoli do not begin to form until week 23 or 24 of pregnancy. A diet high

in fresh fruit, such as grapes, has been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer and emphysema.

Grape seeds also contain a chemical called proanthocyanidin, which appears to reduce the

severity of asthma triggered by allergy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHEESE BONES

A nice ?holey cheese, like Emmenthal, is not just good for your bones, it even resembles

their internal structure. And like most cheeses, it is a rich source of calcium, a vital ingredient

for strong bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Together with another

mineral called phosphate, it provides the main strength in bones but also helps to power

muscles. Getting enough calcium in the diet during childhood is crucial for strong bones.

A study at Columbia University in New York showed teens who increased calcium intake

from 800mg a day to 1200mg equal to an extra two slices of cheddar – boosted their bone

density by six per cent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GINGER STOMACH

Root ginger, commonly sold in supermarkets, often looks just like the stomach. So its

interesting that one of its biggest benefits is aiding digestion. The Chinese have been

using it for over 2,000 years to calm the stomach and cure nausea, while it is also a

popular remedy for motion sickness. But the benefits could go much further.Tests on

mice at the University of Minnesota found injecting the chemical that gives ginger

its flavour slowed down the growth rate of bowel tumours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BANANA (SMILE) DEPRESSION

Cheer yourself up and put a smile on your face by eating a banana. The popular fruit

contains a protein called tryptophan. Once it has been digested, tryptophan then gets

converted in a chemical neurotransmitter called serotonin. This is one of the most

important mood-regulating chemicals in the brain and most anti-depressant drugs work

by adjusting levels of serotonin production. Higher levels are associated with better moods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MUSHROOM EAR

Slice a mushroom in half and it resembles the shape of the human ear. And guess what?

Adding it to your cooking could actually improve your hearing. Thats because mushrooms

are one of the few foods in our diet that contain vitamin D. This particular vitamin is

important for healthy bones, even the tiny ones in the ear that transmit sound to the brain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BROCCOLI CANCER

Close-up, the tiny green tips on a broccoli head look like hundreds of cancer cells. Now

scientists know this disease-busting veg can play a crucial role in preventing the disease.

Last year, a team of researchers at the US National Cancer Institute found just a weekly

serving of broccoli was enough to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 45 per cent.

In Britain, prostate cancer kills one man every hour.