Today all of us are constantly running on the treadmill called life. Long working hours, late nights, stress, health problems, family and household responsibilities constantly weigh us down.
Some sleep through the weekend to compensate sleep deprivation during the week. Eating junk and fast foods has made your health go for a toss. However, don't lose hope. There are a number of natural 'power foods' that are packed with nutrients, vitamins, anti-oxidants (cancer fighting agents/properties) and minerals. A regular consumption of these foods have benefits like slowing down of the ageing process, controlling cholesterol levels, blood pressure and diabetes.
Apples
'An apple a day keeps the doctor away' isn't just a proverb, it is quite true! Apples contain fibre that is good for maintaining your digestive system. They are rich sources of vitamin A, C and E, phosphorous, magnesium and potassium and contain anti-oxidants that help prevent and fight cancer.
Almonds and walnuts
Almonds are good for improving memory. Almonds and walnuts contain monounsaturated fats and some polyunsaturated fats that are good for the heart and help in lowering Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) otherwise known as bad cholesterol. They're high in nutritional value, anti-ageing properties and great for your skin, too.
Avocados
Avocados, also known as 'Nature's Butter', are a major source of betasitosterol, that helps in lowering cholesterol. Avocados contain fibre, folic acid, vitamin E and potassium. With a great of source of monounsaturated fats, they're great for your heart.
Grape fruits
Grape fruits are great if you want to lose weight. They also help lower blood sugar levels, which is beneficial to diabetic patients. This is because grape fruits contain pectin, a substance that helps in lowering the rate at which carbohydrates (glucose) in the bloodstream.
Beans
Different types of beans like lima beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, moong etc as well as pulses are very healthy. That's because they are high in proteins and contain fibre, magnesium, iron, zinc and vitamin B. They help reduce blood pressure and diabetes.
Bananas
Bananas are a major source of potassium and iron, which is beneficial for restoring low haemoglobin levels in the body. They're also great for the digestive system because of their fibre content.
Green tea
Green tea is very beneficial for weight loss. It helps increase the body's metabolism, is a great source of anti-oxidants and has anti-ageing properties. It also helps improve the good cholesterol (HDL) and lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body.
Chocolate
Chocolate is prepared using Cacao beans. Dark chocolate (containing less sugar) is rich in anti-oxidants. When you eat chocolate, the happy hormones — seritonins and endorphins are released in the brain, making you feel good.
Yogurt
Yogurt or dahi is a great source of calcium that is essential for maintainence and strengthening of the bones. A good source of proteins, they are especially good for vegetarians who are deprived of proteins from eggs and meat and people who are lactose-intolerant. Yogurt also helps in digestion and weight loss. Opt for low-fat yogurt for best results.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a major source of Lycopene, a powerful anti-oxidant that helps fight cancerous cells. Lycopene can be absorbed through tomatoes by the body in raw as well as cooked form. They also help in preventing hear disease and reducing high cholesterol.
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