WALNUT – BRAIN
THE gnarled folds of a walnut mimic the appearance of ahuman brain - and provide a clue to the benefits.Walnuts are the only nuts which contain significantamounts of omega-3 fatty acids.They may also help head off dementia. An American studyfound that walnutextract broke down the protein-based plaques associatedwith Alzheimer’ disease.Researchers at Tufts University in Boston found walnutsreversed some signs of brain ageing in rats.
TOMATO – HEART
A TOMATO is red and usually has four chambers, justlike our heart.Tomatoes are also a great source of lycopene, a plantchemical that reducesthe risk of heart disease and several cancers.The Women’s Health Study — an American researchprogramme which tracks thehealth of 40,000 women — found women with the highestblood levels oflycopene had 30 per cent less heart disease than womenwho had very little lycopene.Lab experiments have also shown that lycopene helpscounter the effect ofunhealthy LDL cholesterol.One Canadian study, published in the journalExperimental Biology and>Medicine, said there was “convincing evidence’ thatlycopene prevented coronary heart diseas
GRAPES – LUNG
SOUR lungs are made up of branches of ever-smallerairways that finish upwith tiny bunches of tissue called alveoli.These structures, which resemble bunches of grapes,allow oxygen to pass
from the lungs to the blood streamOne reason that very premature babies struggle to survive is that thesealveoli do not begin to form until week 23 or 24 of pregnancy.A diet high in fresh fruit, such as grapes, has beenshown to reduce the risk of lung cancer and emphysema.Grape seeds also contain a chemical calledproanthocyanidin, which appearsto reduce the severity of asthma triggered by allergy.
BEANSPROUTS – SPERM
The stir-fry favorite bears an uncanny resemblance tothe images we see of‘swimming’ sperm trying to fertilize an egg. Andresearch from the USsuggests they could play an important part in boostingmale fertility.A study at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio showed that tomake healthy spermin large quantities, the body needs a good supply ofvitamin C, a powerfulantioxidant that protects cells against damage byharmful molecules calledfree radicals.Just half a cup of bean sprouts provides 16 per cent ofthe recommendeddaily allowance of vitamin C for a man.It’s not just dad but baby too who could benefit.Bean sprouts are packed with folate, a vitamin thatprevents neural tube defects, where the baby is born with a damaged brain or spine.
GINGER – STOMACH
Root ginger, commonly sold in supermarkets, often looksjust like the stomach.So it’s interesting that one of its biggest benefits is aiding digestion.The Chinese have been using it for over 2,000 years to calm the stomach andcure nausea, while it is also a popular remedy for motion sickness.But the benefits could go much further.Tests on mice at the University of Minnesota found injecting the chemicalthat gives ginger its flavor slowed down the growth rate of bowel tumours.
CHEESE – BONES
A nice ‘holey’ cheese, like Emmenthal, is not justgood for your bones, iteven resembles their internal structure.And like most cheeses, it is a rich source of calcium, a vital ingredientfor strong bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis later in life.Together with another mineral called phosphate, it provides the mainstrength in bones but also helps to ‘power’ muscles.Getting enough calcium in the diet during childhood is crucial for strong bones.A study at Columbia University in New York showed teenswho increased calcium intake from 800mg a day to 1200mg – equal to an extra two slices ofcheddar - boosted their bone density by six per cent.
BROCCOLI – CANCER
Close-up, the tiny green tips on a broccoli head look likehundreds of cancer cells.Now scientists know this disease-busting veg can play acrucial role in preventing the disease.Last year, a team of researchers at the US National CancerInstitute found just a weekly serving of broccoli was enough to reduce the riskof prostate cancer by 45 per cent.In Britain , prostate cancer kills one man every hour.
BANANA (SMILE) – DEPRESSION
Cheer yourself up and put a smile on your face by eating a banana.The popular fruit contains a protein called tryptophan.Once it has been digested, tryptophan then getsconverted in a chemical nurotransmitter called serotonin.This is one of the most important mood-regulatingchemicals in the brain and most anti-depressant drugs work by adjusting levelsof serotonin production.Higher levels are associated with better moods.
MUSHROOM – EAR
Slice a mushroom in half and it resembles the shape ofthe human ear.And guess what? Adding it to your cooking couldactually improve your hearing.That’s because mushrooms are one of the few foods inour diet that contain vitamin D.This particular vitamin is important for healthy bones, even the tiny onesin the ear that transmit sound to the brain.
