3 Reasons Bananas Are Good For You!

1. Bananas are a good source of fiber. Bananas provide 3-4 g of fiber each. Although fiber is essential to good health and a healthy digestive system, many people are lacking it in their diet. Fiber is good for your heart, can help promote weight loss, and helps to control blood sugar levels. Eating more fiber may also help to reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. 

2. Bananas are a good source of potassium. A medium banana contains around 420 mg of potassium. Potassium is an important mineral for proper cell function and a healthy heart. Potassium can also help to lower your blood pressure. Low potassium levels can lead to weakness and muscle cramps. 

3. Bananas are good for your digestive system. Bananas contain prebiotics called fructoogliosaccharides which help to nourish the "good bacteria" in your gut. Maintaining a healthy balance of good bacteria in your digestive system is crucial to protecting the body from harmful bacteria that may cause illness.

Thanks for reading, and we hope you learned something! Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@EatGroovy) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/EatGroovy) for lots of great healthy eating tips!

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5 Vegetables High In Fiber!

Fiber is an important nutrient that many people do not get enough of. It is essential for a healthy digestive system, good for your heart, promotes weight loss, and helps control blood sugar levels. Eating more fiber may help to reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Add more fiber to your diet by eating more of these five fiber-rich vegetables! 

1) Artichokes

Artichokes contain more fiber per serving than any other vegetable! One medium artichoke contains around 10 grams of fiber. Artichokes are also very high in antioxidants and great for the liver (3 Amazing Health Benefits of Artichokes!). 

A Few Delicious Artichoke Recipes:

Delicious Low Calorie Artichoke Quesadilla!

Light Spinach & Artichoke Dip!

2) Green Peas

One cup of green peas contains around 9 grams of fiber. Eat cooked green peas as a side dish or try adding them to soups, salads, pastas and casseroles! 

3) Broccoli

One cup of broccoli contains about 5 grams of fiber. Broccoli is also a great source of other important nutrients including vitamin C, lutein, and beta carotene. 

4) Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts contain about 4 grams of fiber per cup. Brussels sprouts also help protect against cancer, are high in vitamin C, and contain powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients (3 Great Reasons To Eat Brussels Sprouts!). 

5) Sweet Corn

Sweet corn contains about 4 grams of fiber per cup. Get even more fiber by mixing corn with black beans in this Easy Black Bean Corn Salad! or try this delicious Chili Lime Grilled Corn on the Cob!

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Cabbage!

 

1. Cabbage has been cultivated for over 4000 years! It has been used for nourishment throughout history, by everyone from sailors, to warriors, to the builders of the Great Wall of China!

2. Cabbage has been linked to fertility. According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "...in some cultures, a bowl of cabbage soup is given to newlyweds the morning after their wedding as part of a fertility ritual. Perhaps that's where the concept for "cabbage patch kids" came from!"

3. Cabbage is a top cancer fighting food! Numerous studies have linked cabbage to cancer prevention. In his book, The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, Dr. Jonny Bowden calls the cabbage family "probably the most important vegetable in the world from the point of nutritional benefits and cancer fighting ability."

4. Although cabbage is a very healthy choice for most people, people with hypothyroidism should consume it in moderation. This is because cabbage contains some natural substances that can interfere with the function of the thyroid gland.

5. Cabbage juice is sold in many health stores as a popular home remedy for ulcers.

5 Reasons To Eat Turmeric!

Turmeric, also known as Indian Saffron, is a spice from the ginger family, typically used in its dried powdered form, and is frequently used in Middle Eastern and South Asian cooking, especially in India where over 90% of the turmeric in the world is produced. It is responsible for making curry and mustard yellow-orange in color. Turmeric has many health benefits and here are just five reasons to think about adding more of this super spice to your diet!

1) Turmeric May Help To Prevent Dementia and Alzheimer's

Turmeric contains a phytochemical called curcumin which has powerful antioxidant and disease fighting properites. According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "One mouse study confirmed that curcumin significantly lowers oxidized proteins and inflammatory cytokines associated with Alzheimer's. Elderly people who ate curry at least once a month scored better on tests to measure cognitive function than those who reported they ate curry less frequently."

2) Turmeric Can Help To Alleviate Arthritis and Joint Inflammation

Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. For this reason, it is frequently used for the treatment of arthritis, and can also be useful for muscle pains, joint inflammation, and carpel tunnel syndrome. According to studies, turmeric may be as effective as anti-inflammatory medications, without any toxic side effects.

3) Turmeric May Help Prevent the Growth of Cancerous Tumors

According to The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why by Jonny Bowden, "There are at least thirty published studies indicating that curcumin has an antitumor effect (either reducing the number or size of tumors or the percentage of animals who developed them)." In particular, turmeric has been linked to the prevention and/or treatment of skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.

4) Turmeric Is Great For Your Liver

Turmeric can help to protect and detoxify the liver. Turmeric has been used to help treat liver conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and jaundice. Promising studies also suggest that curcumin may even kill liver cancer according to http://www.greenmedinfo.com. The liver protective qualities of turmeric are similar to those found in milk thistle and artichokes. 

5) Turmeric Is Great For Your Skin

Because of it powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is great for your skin. It may help with the treatment of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. It has also been associated with the treatment of acne, dark spots, and hyper-pigmentation. As a powerful antioxidant, turmeric can help to slow the aging process, prevent wrinkles, and improve the skin's elasticity.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about this delicious spice! If you love spices, you may also be interested in checking out 3 Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper!, 5 Spices That May Boost Your Metabolism!, and/or Why Is Ginger So Good For You?

Eat Groovy Q&A: Can Spicy Mustard Boost Your Metabolism?

Question: Can spicy mustard boost your metabolism?

Answer: Yes! You may have heard that hot peppers can boost your metabolism and spicy mustard works the same way. It increases your body temperature causing your body to burn more calories as it uses energy to cool down. According to a recent article in examiner.com, Scientists at England's Oxford Polytechnic Institute recently found that eating just one teaspoon of hot mustard may boost metabolism 20 to 25% for several hours after eating! Mustard is also likely to be beneficial to your health in other ways, because mustard seeds are a good source of health promoting nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and glucosinolates. Plus, mustard is very low in calories (only about 5 calories per teaspoon) compared to other condiments such as mayo, which makes it a great choice for those looking to add flavor while watching their weight.

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