Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Eggplant Data

As I have stated earlier, here is the data for the eggplant from Reader's Digest's book, Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal.




From page 34:
  • Eggplant ranked 19, with an ORAC score of 390 (3 1/2 oz or 100mL), for having an antioxidant property


From pages 145 and 146:

Benefits

Drawbacks
  • Soak up fat during cooking.
  • Provide minimal nutrients.

Simply Eggplant: Kosher Recipes from Around the WorldEggplants provide very little nutrition, but are among our most versatile vegetables and a component of many popular ethnic dishes, including Indian curries, Greek moussakas, Middle Eastern baba ghanoush, and French ratatouille. Eggplants are filling, yet low in calories -- a cup has 40 calories. Eggplants' spongy testure, however, soaks up fat. Deep-fried eggplants soak up four times as much fat as French fried potatoes.

The tastiest eggplants are firm, with thin skins and a mild flvor. Larger ones are more likely to be seedy, tough, and bitter. Their skins range in color from deep purple to light violet and white.

Eggplant: More Than 75 Delicious RecipesEggplants are members of the nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Some have a bitter flavor, which easily can be eliminated with salt before cooking. Slice of cube the eggplant, then sprinkle it with salt. Let it stand for half an hour, then drain it and blot it dry. The salt draws out the excess moisture and reduces bitterness. Eggplants can be stuffed and baked or broiled, roasted, or stewed. If sauteing, use a nonstick pan and minimal oil.


Vintage Kitchen?Baked Eggplant Finest LAMINATED Print Grace Pullen 11x14From page 371:
"Most vegetables do not provoke allergies, but some people react to members of the nightshade family, which includes eggplants and tomatoes..."




Lifted from Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal by Reader's Digest.
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The Lowly but Extraordinary Eggplant

For many years, the eggplant is but a vegetable that is used is dishes to simply add in some fiber, texture, or fill in some volume.

Even Reader's Digest, in their book Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal, they mentioned that the eggplant has not much vitamins or minerals in it. I will put up that clipping in the next few days, but for now, what I found in the Ezine directory is quite the opposite.

The eggplant is always put in the bottom of the list whenever discussions on positive effect due to the vitamins and minerals from such fruits and vegetables are examined. But I think this article will swing the door to the other side, and make way for the lowly but extraordinary eggplant to take its place -- especially that it is found to have a very direct impact on lowering bad cholesterol, which, if uncorrected, can result to cardiac arrest or high blood pressure.

Quite interesting, eh? Read on...



Lowering Cholesterol With Home Remedy - Eggplant

More than 50% of American populations have cholesterol above 200 mg per dl. Of these, more than 25% have levels which can cause potentially fatal diseases like cardiac arrest or stroke. Though statistics show that the Cholesterol levels are falling in the middle age and the elderly partly due to increased awareness and use of statins and other lipid lowering drugs, the worrying point is the increase in Lipid levels in the younger adults. Sedentary life style and increased consumption of packed and junk food have contributed to the rise in the young. Lack of fibers is also contributing to this unfortunate tendency. As in their elderly counterparts this cholesterol comes mainly in the form of dairy products, meat, and trans-fatty acids seen mostly in packed and junk foods. An over-consumption of these unhealthy foods carries the risk of obesity and cardiac diseases.

Totally Eggplant Cookbook (Totally Cookbooks)Cholesterol levels have a profound effect on obesity. Obese individuals have unusually high levels of LDL and low HDL. Obesity also is indicted in ailments like cardiac arrest, high blood pressure. Obesity is also the cause of syndrome X. Syndrome X is characterized by collection of fat on the abdominal walls, raised levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), hypertension and insulin resistance. Syndrome X is also believed to be a pre-cursor to diabetes and is associated with high mortality in the First Instance heart attack in patients. Having adequate levels of HDL is also important especially to prevent stroke. As explained, deposition of cholesterol in the form of plaques narrow the lumen of arteries including important ones like carotid artery. This reduces blood flow risking the death of Brain tissues due to ischaemia leading to stroke.

Eggplant: More Than 75 Delicious RecipesVegetarian foods are much in vogue these days. It has been said that a simple change into vegetarian diet can lower cholesterol by more than one third. Canadian scientists have claimed that people can drastically reduce their cholesterol level by subsisting on plant foods. Furthermore, the scientists said that the results cannot be matched even by the most modern dietary regimen to reduce cholesterol. Among the various plants which were tried out, eggplant was found to be particularly effective in reducing LDL levels. Eggplant contain natural phenols which inhibit the ACE or angiotensin converting enzyme much like the drug enalapril or lisinopril does. But it does not mean that people on ACE inhibitors should stop taking the drug and switch over to eating eggplant. But it is not without reason that naturalists recommend eggplant in home remedies for treating hypertension and high cholesterol.

The Eggplant Cancer Cure: A Treatment for Skin Cancer and New Hope for Other Cancers from Nature's PharmacyEggplant is a very efficient as well as a safe remedy for curing High Cholesterol.


Mamaherb.com is a herbal website which allows users all over the world to share and rate their experience of natural and alternative home remedies.

Article Directory: EzineArticles




Taken from Ezine aticle directory; source article is below:
Lowering Cholesterol With Home Remedy - Eggplant
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Being Healthy Through Good Eating Habits

An ear of winter wheat.Image via Wikipedia
The main difference between Eastern and Western diet is that Eastern diet consists mainly of rice or noodles, which is garnished with vegetables and meat, the meat being of poultry, or of fish. That of the West mainly is consisting of meat, which, if not beef, is pork, sandwiched in wheat buns.

Now, wheat has been found to provide growth, mostly physical, while rice simply provides carbohydrates, which is then converted into sugar in the blood, and used up when manual work is done.

Which is why the number of obese people in the West is far more than those in the East.

Furthermore, if an Asian migrates to the West, and if he takes on the Western diet, he also grows fat.

So it is neither genes nor race, but rather, the diet.

i found this article about good eating habits in the Ezine article directory, and interestingly, it is written by a Westerner. Who else would be writing it better, than someone who knows its value?

In this regard, do read on...



Some Ideas about Developing Good Eating Habits

Most everyone knows that good eating habits are essential to good health and well being and while many people seem to ignore this fact, lots of people really do try to eat properly but part of the problem and the main reason a lot of people just don't seem to be able to maintain good eating habits is both misinformation as well as lack of information.

With the vast variety of foods out there and the vast amount of advertising done for many of these foods with oftentimes misleading statements regarding their dietary values it would stand to reason that it is so easy to be guided off track and right into bad food choice territory. Add to the equation the vast amount of diet plans for weight loss as well as the amount of trendy new cookbooks extolling the virtues of the latest fad revolutionary healthy foods to eat and you have a vast array of contradicting information coming at you from all sides!

So what should you do to develop good eating habits? Well, here are some guidelines to follow to get you well on your way to making better, more health minded food choices.

Primary Health Series Health: Food and Nutrition [Grade Level K-6]1) PREPARE YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS

In order to begin you need to prepare yourself mentally. Plan in advance what you will be eating during the week, write it out for yourself, stock up on those foods and make it happen!

2) PROTEIN IS VITAL

Make sure you eat protein in some form at every meal, including breakfast.

3) EAT LESS REFINED BREADS AND STARCHES

Cut back on the amount of bread and pasta you consume. Eat your pasta as your mid-day meal and if you do eat pasta or bread it comes from whole grains.

Grover's Guide to Good Eating (Happy Healthy Monsters)4) LIMIT YOUR DAIRY CONSUMPTION

Drink non-fat milk, eat low fat or fat free cheese and low fat yogurt but check the yogurt, some low fat yogurt has a very high sugar content!

5) DON'T OVERDO THE FRUIT

No more than 2 a day and use just the good fiber kinds. Apples, pears, plums, and berries are best. Avoid fruit juices, they're loaded with sugar!

6) EAT NUTS

Just stay in moderation here. A quarter cup of pistachios, almonds or cashews are not only tasty, but a good source of protein.

Trevor Romain: If you don't take care of your body, where else are you going to live?7) REDUCE THE PORTIONS

When at home, use smaller plates. If you go out, order the smaller size or if one size fits all, get a doggie bag in advance and put half your meal in it before you start to eat. You will fell better and have a good meal to eat again later.

8) DRINK LOTS OF WATER

Water has great dietary and overall health benefits. Many hunger pangs are due to lack of water. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will keep you hydrated and will reduce food cravings.

9) GO MEATLESS FOR A MEAL A DAY

Try eating one meal per day with no meat. For example, have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich rather than a hamburger. You reduce bad fat and increase fiber and protein.

Eating for Good Health (Living Well, Staying Healthy)10) NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST

A proper breakfast gets your metabolism going. Use cereals with at least 5 grams of fiber and no more than 8 grams of sugar and use non-fat milk.

11) EAT MORE SEAFOOD

Eat water packed tuna and salmon; they are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that help protect the heart. You should have these seafood's 2-3 times per week.

12) BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH

Rather than eating lunch out all the time, make your lunch and only eat out for lunch once a week. You'll save money and know your eating good things like whole grain bread, lean chicken or ham and fruit or veggies.

Overweight Kids: Spiritual, Behavioral and Preventive solutions for : Making good food choices, Nutritional lifetime eating habits, Healthy body Image, Physically actiThe fact is if you use these simple guidelines as a means to put together a plan of good eating habits you will be well on your way to developing them with sound nutrition and you will be paving the way for a life long journey of better health.

Jim O'Neill gives you tons of valuable information on the subjects of weight loss, fitness, and nutrition to make it easy for you to live a healthy lifestyle. Sign up now for his free 7 part mini e-course at: http://www.mrgymfitness.com

Article Directory: EzineArticles



Taken from Ezine directory, with the same title:
Some Ideas about Developing Good Eating Habits
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