heart disease – Fruit & Stuff

Oranges, kiwi, lemon, bell pepper, strawberries, grapefruit, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are a few plant foods that are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C has been linked to many impressive health benefits that include boosting antioxidant levels, lowering blood pressure, protecting against gout attacks, improving iron absorption, boosting immunity, and reducing heart disease and dementia risk. Because the human body cannot produce Vitamin C, it must be obtained through food sources or manufactured supplements. Opinions vary about how much Vitamin C is needed for optimal health. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)–enough to prevent deficiency syndromes such as scurvy–is 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women, but the Upper Limit (UL) is 2,000 mg. Because of the known benefits of Vitamin C for prevention and optimal health, including those that have not yet been fully proven, I prefer to take a 1,000 mg supplement and to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin C every day. High-heat cooking temperatures or prolonged cook times can break down the vitamin. Because it is water-soluble, the vitamin can also seep into cooking liquid and be lost if the liquids are not eaten. Quick heating methods or using as little water as possible when cooking, such as stir-frying or blanching, can preserve the vitamin. Foods at peak ripeness eaten raw contain the most vitamin C.

Source: Harvard School of Public Health

Lentils are low in calories but high in protein, fiber, B Vitamins, iron, folate, magnesium, zinc, and potassium.

Lentil and Spinach Salad Recipe

Lentils (lentejas) are edible seeds from the legume family. They are a food staple in Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia. Some of the most common types of lentils are brown, puy, green, yellow and red, and beluga. Brown lentils are the most widely known type. They’re easily cooked in 5–30 minutes and do not require soaking. Lentils are an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They also provide polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties with potential cancer cell-inhibiting effects. Furthermore, lentils contain a broad range of beneficial phytochemicals, which protect against chronic diseases. Eating lentils has positive effects on several risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It helps lower blood pressure and levels of homocysteine. Lentils are very filling and appear to keep blood sugar levels steady. and eating lentils may help decrease your overall food intake, which could contribute to weight loss.

It should be noted that lentils contain antinutrients such as trypsin inhibitors and phytic acid, which reduce the absorption of some nutrients. However, the amounts are small, and cooking lentils will minimize these.

1 cup of cooked lentils provides

39.9 g	CARBOHYDRATE
230	CALORIES
0.8 g	FAT
15.6 g	FIBER
17.9 g	PROTEIN
55% DV	COPPER
37% DV	IRON
17% DV	MAGNESIUM
43% DV	MANGANESE
28% DV	PHOSPHOROUS
16% DV	POTASSIUM
23% DV	ZINC
28% DV	VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE)
13% DV	VITAMIN B3 (NIACIN)
25% DV	VITAMIN B5 (PANTOTHENIC ACID)
21% DV	VITAMIN B6
90% DV	VITAMIN B9 (FOLATE)

Sources: healthline