Healthy Fruits and Vegetables for Better Health

Fruits and vegetables are not only delicious but healthy too. They contain essential vitamins and minerals that offer protection against many chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a balanced daily diet.

Apples
Flavonoids, a type of antioxidant present in apples, can help to lower the chances of developing asthma and diabetes. The fibers of an apple help to clean your teeth and palate of bacteria and food residue. However make sure to eat apples whole without peeling its skin as its rich flavor and the nutrient load lies just below the skin.

Banana
Bananas are a rich source of potassium that can help to maintain a healthy blood pressure level.

Dried figs
Dried figs are rich in fiber and may help to reduce the risk of certain heart diseases.

Grape
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes may help to lower the risk of developing blood clots and also reduces high blood pressure. This antioxidant may also help prevent heart diseases. Resveratrol has also been seen to help arrest the spread of cancer cells, especially in breast, colon and stomach cancers.

Mango
Mangoes are rich in zeaxanthin and lutein, both antioxidants help protect vision and lower the risk of development of age-related macular degeneration.

Orange
Besides being well known for its vitamin C, oranges are also a good source of folate. Folate is especially an important nutrient for pregnant women as it can help prevent the development of neural tube defects.

Papaya
The skin of the papaya contains special acids which help to maintain healthy skin. Papain, the enzyme present in papaya, also helps to aid digestion.

Beet
Betaine present in beet helps to reduce inflammation and pain. Beets are also rich in folate which is an essential B complex vitamin that helps prevent birth defects in the growing fetus.


Carrot
Carrots are a rich vegetable source of antioxidant compounds and also pro-vitamin A carotenes. These carotenes and antioxidant compounds promote good vision and help to protect against certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

Celery
Celery is a rich source of vitamin C and many other active compounds including phthalides and coumarins which may help lower cholesterol and prevent cancer.

Eggplant
Besides being rich in a host of vitamins and minerals, eggplants are also rich in nasunin (found under the skin of this vegetable) which is considered a brain food.

Green peas
Green peas are loaded with 8 vitamins and 7 minerals along with fiber and protein. Vitamin K along with folate and vitamin B6 from green peas help to maintain healthy bones.

Spinach
Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, magnesium, manganese, iron, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin E. All these nutrients help to protect against a host of diseases like arthritis, colon cancer, heart diseases and osteoporosis.

Tomato

Tomato is an excellent source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant that offers protection against advanced stages of prostrate cancer and may also help reduce high cholesterol levels.

I love a good laugh. At dinner time, when we tell jokes and recite funny scenes from movies, I can tell we are a healthy family. Funny movies are a constant guest at our dinner table. I guess this is our magic pill against sickness and sadness. I believe laughter is the best medicine, a wonderful vehicle to happiness.There is a whole new science now, dealing with the importance of laughter to our wellbeing. Terminally ill patients watch comedy movies to heal themselves. Think about it, instead of a pill or a painful treatment, the doctor can prescribe – a movie! There are courses that teach people how to laugh. Funny, isn't it?! Laughter is one of the most natural things in childhood, and yet we need to re- learn it as adults. If you think of movies, you can see that most kid's movies are funny. If they are not, they have a character in the movie that makes the whole thing fun. Kids are in the mood for laughing most of the time. We can learn a lot from them, they are healthier. Children laugh a lot. One of the greatest joys is to hear a baby laugh. More people find that irresistible. Children do not need a “real” reason to laugh. They laugh at things that seem silly. What do you think? Is it better to laugh over millions of silly things or only to laugh at rare “seriously funny” things? Who has more fun in life, kids or grown-ups?Watching funny movies has great physical benefits and entered as a method in “Laughter Therapy”.Laughing has great benefits like:• It strengthens your immune system • It enhances your cardiovascular flexibility • It increases your motivation • It helps you think more clearly and increases your intellectual performance • It improves your information retention (memory) • It increases your creativity • It changes your emotional state to the positive • It releases and transforms your emotional pain • It develops your abdominal muscles There are so many other benefits to laughter that it makes you wonder why we do not laugh more. If you want to enjoy a wonderful feeling, grab yourself a funny movie and start laughing. If you are a typical adult and do not laugh very often, here are some tips to help you improve this natural medicine –laughing. • Laughing is contagious. Hang around with people who appreciate laughter. Laughing in a group is easier to start, especially if you feel comfortable with the group (family, friends, and colleagues) find the right company to watch movies with. • Find a movie that suits your style. Some like "Wayne's World" style, some love "Notting Hill" or parody movies. Stick to what works for you. • Let go of any embarrassment associated with laughing – just go for it! • You need a reason to laugh every day. Tell jokes or share funny scenes out of movies with humour lovers. • Keep practicing until you get the hang of it. It will get easier over time Movies are an easy tool to encourage laughter. As opposed to medication, they are much cheaper and they have no side effects. The effect lasts long afterwards and it actually keep you healthy. Tsoof and Eden love to download full movies from the Internet.