Go Natural

There are natural sources of vitamins and minerals which can help increase our resistance to flu especially now that the weather is having abrupt changes which could have undesirable effects on our bodies. A lot of kids have cough and cold because of the unpredictable weather - hot one moment and it's raining the next. The weird thing is this summer seems to be the hottest summer I have experienced in my life and yet it's raining. The weather bureau is not declaring summer has ended but it's only a rainy summer. Figure that out.

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Fruits and vegetables help shield our bodies from harmful elements that could attack anytime. These foods are not as expensive as, say, a meal at your favorite fast food chain. Let's religiously include in our budget healthy foods that will come along way in protecting our bodies.


Bell peppers are natural sources of two powerful antioxidants, vitamin C and A. Included in the daily diet, they help promote lung health.


Bitter gourd or bitter melon is one vegetable which gives so many health benefits. My father is a very health conscious person. He is one to swear on the good benefits of eating bitter gourd. He drinks this vegetable's juice with honey everyday. It helped a lot in lowering sugar levels in blood and urine.


As we have probably learned since grade school, carrot is a rich source of beta-carotene. It is an antioxidant and boosts our immune system. It's a good thing we all love eating carrots in our family - whether raw or an ingredient in a vegetable dish.


I learned from the nutritionist who oriented me and my husband on our first day at the gym that chayote is one of the vegetables with no cholesterol, low in calories and very rich in fiber. Well, this is one of the vegetables highly accepted in my family since it tastes good especially when they are sauteed with pork, tomato, onion and garlic.


I learned that eggplant is a brain food. According to eggplant research, nasunin, a nutrient found on its skin, is known to protect brain cell membranes.


And who will argue with fresh fruits? We always have fruits in our house since I was a child. Banana is a staple. My mother sees to it we have our fair share of fruits within the day. I carry that with me now that I am a mom.

*Reference: World's Healthiest Foods

***Read more entries on protect/protection, today's theme at Photohunt.