LETS ADD COLOUR TO OUR FOOD AND LIFE!

I don’t know about the rest of you but I am a big procrastinator when it comes to making a few changes to my daily lifestyle in having a more healthy diet. Yes! I have a whole range of excuses. After all these years of excuses, it was time for a REALITY check of my eating habits here in India.  I had the perfect reason to think about this seriously as I was ill this past 10 days and I realized I needed to do something to help myself. I was getting ill one time too many and my favourite doctor is in Singapore. So it is best I stay healthy here!

Well, I did some soul-searching. Frankly, I am not going to be cooking regularly or be going to bed early. But there is one thing I can do with just a little more effort. I can eat more fresh fruit and drink fresh fruit juice! I decided to do some research which will spur me to start and keep up this good eating habit.

Here are some interesting facts about some of the easily available year-round fruits instead of just popping multi-vitamin tablets. Made me think how silly I am – God creates all these natural healthy, colourful fruits for me to eat – and I keep thinking I should buy multi-vitamins…which usually end up just being in their packaging in my room. Yes! I am very bad at taking tablets of ANY kind - be it medicine or vitamins. I need my Mum here who is good at lecturing me daily to take my vitamins and medicine since my childhood!

WATERMELON

I always enjoyed watermelon juice but I had NO IDEA that  watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant called lycopene that travels throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us.  Watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.  

What’s more it helps lower blood pressure (Potassium), prevents leg cramps (Magnesium). Aids in Digestion (Thiamine), Helps Fight Depression (Vitamin B6) and helps Fight Stress (Pantothenic Acid)!

MANGOES

No one needs to persuade me to eat mangoes ever! I could probably live on mangoes if I had to. Well, for someone who spends long hours in front of the PC, I had no idea that mangoes are good for eyesight! Apparently, One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight. Eating mangoes regularly prevents night blindness, refractive errors, dryness of the eyes, softening of the cornea, itching and burning in the eyes.  

What’s more Mangoes have great cancer-preventing properties (Phenols and abundant enzymes), also combats acidity and soothes the stomach, and surprisingly is a diabetic homemade remedy! Boil a few mango leaves in water and allow it to saturate through the night. Consume the filtered drink in the morning.

APPLES

We all know the adage – an apple a day keeps the doctor away! Well, the pectin in apples helps prevent  heart disease.

More importantly, the natural chemicals and vitamins in apples help to protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.

Apple juice is truly refreshing and is my favourite juice during long flights.

ORANGES

 The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research in Australia found in reviews of scientific studies that a daily extra serving of citrus fruits, which includes oranges, reduces the chances of suffering a stroke by nearly 20 percent.

What I did not know was that oranges have enough Calcium for maintaining strong bones and helping to protect bones from injury, including possible breakages. Well, we all know oranges are high in Vitamin C which provides us with many health benefits and immunity aganst illnesses. Did you know that Vitamin C helps the body to fight against building up a hardening of the arteries known as arteriosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks? The abundance of flavonoids in oranges help to lower stress and combat bad cholesterol levels too! And did you know that the fibres in oranges works with our body to keep blood sugar levels low? Well, I did not!

BANANA

Now , if there is one thing in great abundance in Kerala, India, it Is the many different varieties of bananas here! I have always known bananas are a good source of energy booster. I was made to eat bananas during athletic events during my schooldays. Well, that Is not all – the potassium in bananas helps prevent cramping too. In fact, the iron in bananas helps stimulate the growth of hemoglobin and helps with those who suffer from anemia.

And the really good news is that you can get a natural high from eating bananas – as it can lift our moods! It seems bananas contain  tryptophan, a mood leveling protein which can help us relax AND the Vitamin B in bananas can help calm our nervous system too.

Well, I have learnt quite a bit just reading up on the Internet the health benefits of my favourite fruits.

Many of us have good intentions to eat more healthily but we are engrossed in other areas of our lives. Well, perhaps putting aside our health is not too smart a thing to do! When we are healthy, our quality of life is good – and that actually adds joy to our lives and all our loved ones.

My 1st week has not started off too well - and I have had 50 percent success only. But this time, I am determined not to give up so easily. The 1st item I am going to buy  on my home trip is a compact juicer! If you are like me, why don't you join me? We just might end up healthier by year end...

We need to thank God for for all the marvellous fruits He has created and ask His Blessings at each meal He provides!

Let’s add colour and zest to our food and daily life!