I am an avid and regular reader of The Hindu but 'Business' is not my cup of tea. During a recent visit to my brother’s house, out of sheer boredom, to kill time, I took up an old issue of the newspaper, Business Line, which is also from The Hindu group. While browsing, I came across this excellent article entitled, “When it rains… fruits!” by Meghna Nanda Dasgupta.
Some excerpts from that article:
Some excerpts from that article:
1. Rains increase the humidity levels and increase the risk of fungal skin infections.
2. Flooded areas and stagnated water lead to proliferation of mosquitoes, which increases the incidence of malaria, dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
To supplement our health, fruits rich in phytonutrients (polyphenols) and antioxidants like Jamun, Lychees and Cherries should be taken.
Jamun, the Indian berry, is rich in minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and manganese. It also contains a powerful antioxidant called anthocyanins, which has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Jamun also lowers blood sugar.
Luchee has anti-cancer properties and is rich in Vitamin C. It is also good source of riboflavin, potassium. Copper and fibre. Lychee has been found to contain the second-higher level of heart healthy polyphenols (antioxidants).
Cherries contain the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants. It is also rich in nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fibre, folate and beta carotene.
Cherries are also a source of anthocyanidine and ease arthritis pain and gout, diabetes and certain cancers.
Ms Meghna Nanda Dasgupta can be contacted at meghna@nutrinirvana.com. You can visit her website:
http://www.nutrinirvana.com/
On return to my place, I visited the website. It was tastefully designed. You can also pay a visit to the site and see it for yourself.
Personally, I find all berries: black berries, blue berries, raspberries, strawberries and gooseberries very healthy, though you may not the like the taste of some, if you are like me. Generally, they contain Anthocyanins, Antioxidants, Catechins, Ellagic Acid, Gallic Acid, Phytochemicals, Quercetin, Rutin, Salicylic Acid, Dietary Fiber and Vitamin C. They also have ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). That is why they are good for health. Properties of these nutrients are available in the Fact Sheets from Berry Health Benefits Network ( link furnished below).
Some other related and useful articles:
For an interesting and colorful article on berries from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berries
‘Fact Sheets on Various Berries’ from Berry Health Benefits Network:
http://berryhealth.fst.oregonstate.edu/health_healing/fact_sheets/index.htm.
Grateful thanks to Ms Meghna Nanda Dasgupta, The Hindu Business Line, Berry Health Benefits Network and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Posts
1 comment:
I have been using tart cherries to ease my arthritis pain for the past 2 years. They would great and I won't take anything different. My doctor told me it is a combination of all of the compounds in the tart cherry. He told me to only eat fresh tart cherries and take Fruit Advantage tart cherry capsules. They are made with whole tart cherries. Here is a link if you are interested http://www.fruitadvantage.com
Post a Comment