What Mother Nature Tells Us

Apologies to anyone who read this post before it was finished- Miss Bonanza Jellybean hit publish prematurely.


I was watching a program on Veria Living yesterday (great channel!) on which Alex Jamieson, of Supersize Me fame, was discussing the health benefits of garbanzo beans.  She talked about how good they were for the heart, and how, coincidentally, they look quite similar to it.  The show host, Dr. Holly, then mentioned the resemblance of walnuts to the human brain, and how good they are for its health.  "Isn't it funny how nature does that for us?" She asked.  I found this topic so fascinating that I decided to look into it further.  Here's what I found.

Chickpeas- The Heart

Garbonzo Beans do look quite a bit like the heart, don't they?  And Alex Jamieson was right-they are full of heart healthy dietary fiber.  Fiber is only found in plant foods, and is a must in our diets. It reduces blood pressure, lowers LDL, and eases inflammation, thereby reducing risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.source

     Walnuts- The Brain

                                                                

I think we've all noticed the (somewhat eery) resemblance between walnuts and the brain.  But did you know they are one of the best plant based foods for it?  That's because they "contain alpha-lineolic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, as well as other polyphenols that act as antioxidants and may actually block the signals produced by free radicals that can later produce compounds that would increase inflammation."(source).  Fish Oil has been in the supplement spotlight for quite a while now, but, despite what we've been told for years (and are still being told by recyclers of old information) research is now finding that the shorter chain fatty acids found in plants, such as walnuts, have similar effects to the long chain fatty acids in animal sources, even providing additional benefits due to their high levels of antioxidants.  Is there anything plants can't do?

Corn- The Pancreas

Once again- fiber, fiber, fiber, only found in plants, is absolutely essential for our health.  And the pancreas.  In fact, research has shown that people who eat high fiber diets have a 50%-60% lower risk of pancreatic cancer!(source)

Sweet Potatoes- The Liver

High in Vitamin A, sweet potatoes can actually loosen up tough fibers caused by excessive drinking or vitamin deficiencies, and eliminate free radicals that cause degeneration over time.(source)

Carrots- The Eyes

Speaking of Vitamin A, did you know deficiencies in this nutrient are the leading cause of blindness in developing countries and in the elderly?  Not something you want to mess around with.  Vitamin A removes free radicals from cells of the eyes and protects the surface of the eye, the cornea, from damage.(source)

Beets- Blood Vessels

Beets are high in nitrates, which not only open blood vessels in the body, increasing blood flow and oxygen to places in the body which are lacking, but also increase blood flow to the brain, possibly reducing risk of dementia.(source)

Alfalfa Sprouts- Hair

Chia Pets aren't the only things alfalfa sprouts grow hair on.  That's because they're high in protein- one of the highest protein plants you can eat, in fact.  Protein encourages hair growth and stimulates the roots of your hair.(source)  


Suffice it to say, Mother Nature is looking out for us, and has done her best to take the guesswork out of healthy eating.  I think we'd all do well to stop taking nutrition advice from labels and start heeding her signs.  Happy eating!





Picture Sources:  Kidney Beans, Kidney, Walnut, Brain, Corn, Pancreas, Sweet Potato, Liver, Carrot, Eye, Garbanzo Beans, Heart, Beets, Blood, Alfalfa Sprouts, Hair