A relative of the cauliflower and Brussel sprouts, broccoli is a vegetable superhero. Broccoli has high levels of potassium, soluble fibre, chromium, beta carotenes, vitamin C and lots of other vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
Blackberries have powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and can be eaten from frozen if fresh ones are not available.
Celery is the natural source of 3-n-butylphthalide, a calming chemical that may lower blood pressure. This is also the chemical that gives celery its distinctive flavour when raw. The famous American chef, James Beard, claimed to have cured his high blood pressure just by eating celery every day.
Cabbage was among the first known sources of beta-carotene, even though the nutrient is far more abundant in carrots. The early twentieth-century researcher Dr. Edward Mellanby, had noticed that butter, which is a good source of vitamin A, could protect against infections in dogs.
Orange carrots are one of the very best sources of the antioxidant beta-carotene. (Only red peppers contain more.) Beta-carotene is a kinder, gentler version of vitamin A that the body can use to make vitamin A is it is needed without the rare, although potentially toxic, side effects of vitamin A overdose.
Packing more vitamin C than an orange, the hairy kiwi fruit, with the bright green flesh and the tiny black seeds, adds a creamy texture and exquisite taste to any tropical fruit salad.
In Japan, kale juice is the base for a popular health drink called Aojiru. Well, maybe popular isn’t quite the right word. Many Japanese game shows feature drinking a glass of Aojiru as a punishment for failing to follow the show’s rules.
Tomatoes, which are members of a family of plants known as nightshades, were once rumoured to be poisonous, and the fact is that many fans of whole foods still regard them with some scepticism. It’s true that the leaves and stems of the tomato plant actually are poisonous.
Spinach is proven to be an excellent source for a long list conventional nutrients. These include vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), folic acid, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the bone-building vitamin, vitamin K1.
Known to the Nahuatl-speaking people of Mexico as xicamatl, the jicama, or Mexican turnip, is a member of a group of plants known by the peculiar designation, yam beans. Jicama is actually a member of the Bean Family, and produces bean pods that look something like lima beans, but it’s the root of the plant that is most commonly consumed
The chemical that gives both cilantro (the leaf) and coriander (the seed) their distinctive, mildly citrusy flavour is a compound called 2-dodecenal. It also appears, oddly enough, in chicken fat, dairy products, the secretions of a millipede called Rhinocricus insulates, and in the essential oils of lemon and orange peel.
Cauliflowers come in a number of different shapes, sizes, and colours. There is the familiar white cauliflower, but there are also purple and orange cauliflowers too, as well as a green cauliflower, sometimes marketed as Romanesco broccoli.
Brussels sprouts aren’t just members of the Cabbage Family. These leafy green vegetables are actually little cabbages that grow on a stalk. Like all the other related cabbages, Brussels sprouts are a great source of many nutrients.
Once thought to be poisonous, this fragrant herb is commonly used in cooking and salads, and is packed with nutrients, providing a wealth of health benefits.
Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, beets are an excellent addition to the diet.
Asparagus officinalis is a delicious sprout that has been prized for millennia for its medicinal and amorous properties. This article looks at the health benefits of Asparagus.
Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? Find out in this article.
These thread-like sprouts are eaten raw and provide a powerful nutritional and anti-oxidant load to your body.
