Holiday meals are all about tradition, and some of the most customary
foods served during Easter and Passover slyly pack a pretty significant
health punch.
Here are five reasons to feel a little virtuous this season:
1. Eggs
Eggs get a bad wrap they truly don’t deserve. Yes the yolk is where
all the cholesterol is, but dozens of studies confirm that saturated and
trans fats are the true heart disease triggers, not cholesterol — eggs
are low in saturated fat and are trans fat free. In addition to high
quality protein the yolk is also where the vitamin D (linked to a number
of health benefits including weight control) and choline are found.
Adequate choline is tied to brain health, muscle control, memory and
reduced inflammation — a known trigger of aging and disease — and heart
health.
2. Potatoes
Spuds have earned a reputation as nothing more than a fattening waste
of calories, but they’re actually one of the healthiest foods on the
planet. In addition to providing fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C and B
vitamins, when cooked then cooled, taters are also loaded with resistant
starch, a unique kind of carb that’s been shown to naturally up your
body’s fat-burning furnace. Like fiber, you can’t digest or absorb
resistant starch and when it reaches your large intestine, it gets
fermented, which triggers your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrate.
3. Horseradish
This condiment with kick opens up the sinuses to support breathing.
It’s also been shown to boost immunity, and rev up metabolism. Pretty
big benefits for a whole lot of flavor and a zero calorie price tag.
4. Parsley
Many people dismiss parsley as nothing more than a decorative
garnish, but it’s actually a nutritional powerhouse. This Mediterranean
herb is rich in immune supporting vitamins A and C and loaded with
potent anti-aging, cancer fighting substances. In animal research one of
parsley’s volatile oils halted the growth of lung tumors and was shown
to neutralize cancer-causing substances like those found in cigarette
smoke.
5. Wine
Red wine has come to be thought of as a health food these days, but
don’t discount white. A recent Spanish study looked at the effects of
each type (6.8 ounces a day) over a 4 week period in a small group of
nonsmoking women and both varieties upped “good” HDL cholesterol levels
and lowered inflammation, two keys to keeping your heart strong and
healthy.
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