Mom Was Right!

The more researchers study nutritional science, the more they come to realize that Mom really knew what she was talking about with regard to healthy eating. Here’s just a sampling of Mom’s nutritional wisdom.An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A study published in the October 2003 Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry identified 16 different biologic polyphenols found in apples, especially in their skins. Polyphenols have a variety of different functions in the body, including antioxidant benefits. Apples also contain vitamin C, which supports the immune system, and are rich in flavonoids, which play an important role in cardiac health.

Eat your greens. Green foods, also known as “super foods,” are rich in an array of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B-complex, C and E, plus the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, manganese, copper and chromium. A study led by Professor Paul Elliott of the Imperial College London studied 4,680 people aged 40-59 and found that a vegetable-rich diet may help cut blood pressure.

Eat plenty of roughage. Roughage, better known as fiber, plays a key role in overall health. Fiber comes in both soluble and insoluble forms and is found exclusively in plant foods. Both forms improve “regularity,” plus the soluble form also helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. Studies show that every 10-percent reduction in cholesterol levels yields a 20-percent reduction in heart disease risk. Foods rich in soluble fiber include oats, citrus fruits, barley, apples and dried beans. Those high in insoluble fibers include wheat bran, the skins of fruits and vegetables, beans, berries and seeds.

Drink your milk. We all know that the calcium in milk plays a vital role in developing strong bones and teeth in children. What we may not realize is that calcium — a mineral found in nuts, beans, fortified foods and leafy, dark-green vegetables, as well as dairy products — helps guard against a variety of diseases as well. Calcium, taken with vitamin D or magnesium to enhance absorption, helps prevent osteoporosis. But it is also necessary for the heart, muscles and nerves to function properly, for blood to clot and to ward off periodontal disease.

We would all do well to follow Mom’s guide to a healthy whole foods diet. But with today’s busy lifestyles, eating right all the time can be difficult. Reliv products include a wide array of nutrients essential to good health.

SOURCES:
Greene, Alan MD, “An Apple A Day.” drgreene.com; October 24, 2003.

Granato, Heather, “Reducing Toxic Stress.” sun-wellness.com

Hamilton, Denise, “The Health Benefits of Calcium.” http://www.apria.com/channels/1,2748,94-158,00.html

“Vegetable rich diet may help cut blood pressure.” http://health.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1365827.cms

“9 Reasons Why An Apple A Day Really Keeps the Doctor Away.” succeedwiththis.com; August 4, 2007