The Optimum Diet – Fruits

Posted by Neill Abayon

Similar to vegetables, fruits are excellent sources of minerals, vitamins and enzymes. Fruits are cleansing food. They are easily digested and exert a cleansing effect on the blood and the digestive track.

In addition to all available fresh fruits, in season you can add any of those fruit in your diet. Fruits are best eaten for breakfast in the morning or as a snack between meals. Roughly, each food group should supply the bulk of one of the three meals: Fruits for breakfast, seeds, nuts or cereal for lunch, and vegetable for dinner; although this order can be interchanged, of course.

Zinc helps prevent pneumonia in the elderly

Posted by Neill Abayon

A new report published in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that zinc plays a very important role in health maintenance. In a study of over 600 seniors from 33 different nursing homes in the Boston area, researchers found that seniors with healthy blood levels of zinc are 50 percent less likely to develop pneumonia than those with sub-par levels.

The study was a follow-up to a previous one which found that people given 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E every day for one year are 20 percent less likely to develop upper respiratory infections, including common colds. But after a follow-up, the trial also revealed that a majority of those same participants had low levels of zinc in their blood.

Read the full article here.

The Health Benefits of Pineapple

Posted by Neill Abayon

Pineapple is one of those foods that is heaven to eat. A good, juicy ripe pineapple can satisfy a sweet craving as well as any chocolate bar. In addition to being a delicious food, there are many health benefits of pineapple.

Pineapple is Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals
The obvious benefits of pineapple are all the vitamins and minerals the fruit is loaded with. Its nutrients include calcium, potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. In addition it is low in fat and cholesterol.

The benefits of pineapple can be achieved through eating fresh, canned, or frozen pineapple or by drinking its juice.

Pineapple Strengthens Bones
One of the benefits of pineapple is that it helps to build healthy bones. Pineapples are rich in manganese, a trace mineral that is needed for your body to build bone and connective tissues. Just one cup of pineapple provides 73% of the daily recommended amount of manganese. The benefits of pineapple can effect the growth of bones in young people and the strengthening of bones in older people.

View the full article here.