How Do Fruits Fight Against Lifestyle Illnesses in Children & Young?

Some fruits/foods are considered “superfood” for good reasons. Popeye, the cartoon character seems to be great with his spinach-derived strength. Broccoli, pumpkin, tomatoes, green tea, berries, nuts, lentils, sprouts, yogurt, barley and fish, all are packed with nutrients that are good for us and our children. Lemon is rich in Vitamin C, is good for sunburns and stomach health. Shrimp increases bone density while coffee reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s.

The secret to a happy healthy life will essentially take us back to our roots; the things which we were forced to eat and drink when we were kids before we lost our way amidst sodas, fries, and pizzas.

“Let medicine be thy food and food be thy medicine” ~ Hippocrates 400 BC

Have we not all had that warm glass of milk when we had trouble sleeping at night? Or haven’t our mothers and grandmothers forced karela down our throats so many times, saying- they are good for us? Well, new research on food shows that they were right all along. [Read: Herbs that heal in vomiting, wheezing, Heatstroke, etc]

Truth is; our lives have changed from the way we lived when we were children and now when we are raising our children. Junk food, lack of exercise, increase in time in front of the TV and video games, have all jeopardized the health of our children as well as our own. Now we are in the search for nutrients in our diet, which will heal what we have brought on to ourselves- lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart diseases, skin problems, Alzheimer’s and even cancer, to state some.

Fruit Fight Against These Lifestyle Illnesses/Disease

Do you think how do fruits actually fight against lifestyle illnesses in children & young equally? Read more 

1. Cancer: There is a host of food which has been proven to fight against cancerous cells. Mustard, whole-grain cereal (fights breast cancer), green or white tea (colon cancer) lemon and tomato (prostate cancer) are some of the food you could incorporate in your daily diet.
2. High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is reduced by raisins and baked potatoes. Heart disease is kept at bay by fish, lemon, papaya, olive oil and nuts, which lowers cholesterol.
3. Digestion: Green papaya, steamed with your lunch may just be god-sent for a bad stomach. Also raisins, green banana, curd are some of the traditional food used to fight indigestion, especially in children. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is an extreme case where poor dietary habits have a large role to play. Increasing fiber in the diet is essential in such cases.
4. Pimples & Acne: Breakout skin is such trouble for teens. Fibrous foods are very important to incorporate which will also help in good digestion and clean up the blood. Whole grains are packed with fiber and antioxidants. Fish which provides omega 3 fatty acids, green vegetables which also provide fiber and nutrients. Colorful red and purple foods keep pores clear by their high antioxidant content, like pomegranate, carrots, purple carrots, beet, black grapes, etc. Green tea has the same effect and great health benefits.
5. Diabetes & Obesity: Along with enough exercise and proper medication, a proper diet is very important for a child with diabetes. Green and leafy vegetables, colorful fruits and whole-grain cereals provide “good” carbohydrates along with nutrients. Beans could be incorporated in the diet. Berries, citrus fruits, and tomatoes are also essential. Encourage an overweight child to snack healthy, with fruits or nuts.

Role of Lifestyle Diseases

Lifestyle diseases have been defined as “diseases of longevity or diseases of civilization”. Some experts believe that diseases like heart problems, diabetes and obesity are results of living what they call a “western lifestyle”, like what I have just described. So once we have been diagnosed with one of these diseases, it is possible to control them and lead a healthy life? Experts say that it is just a matter of proper exercise and nutrition.

Phytonutrients are the latest buzz word in nutrition. Carotenoids, flavonoids, phenols are organic substances found in plants that bring us good health. Carrots, green vegetables, tomatoes and other colorful vegetables and fruits, berries and even tea have been proven to repair cell damage, act as antioxidants, thus keeping aging at bay, increasing immunity, preventing cancer and producing Vitamin A. Dark green and yellow vegetables are known to reduce the chances of a stroke.

Recommended: Suggest to always include a lot of greens, reds, and yellows in your & child's diet. Maybe its time we went to the sabzi mandi and bought some karelas.