Vitamin B is essential for several daily cellular chemical processes that take place in your body. It is crucial to avoid any vitamin shortage because B vitamins are necessary for good health and assist your body with a variety of cellular processes. The advantages of B vitamins will be discussed in this article, along with the recommendation of Vitamin B complex multivitamins.
Vitamin B
Water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins are the two primary categories of vitamins. The body can easily store fat-soluble vitamins, which are often fat (hence the name). However, water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored since they are filtered by the kidneys and subsequently eliminated in the urine because they dissolve in water as they enter the body. The water-soluble B vitamins listed below are good for diets:
Numerous manufacturers make multivitamins that only contain water-soluble vitamins, sometimes known as vitamin B complexes, and which include all eight water-soluble B vitamins. Another water-soluble vitamin that they occasionally include is Vitamin C. A multivitamin may be marketed as "high-potency" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if it contains 100 per cent or more of the daily recommended amount of the particular vitamin. When describing vitamins or minerals in a supplement that also includes additional nutrients, the term "high-potency" is sometimes used.
B1 vitamin (Thiamine)
Thiamine, a kind of vitamin B1, aids in converting the food you eat into energy. This vitamin is necessary for many biological processes, including growth and development. The average adult requires 1.1 to 1.2 milligrammes of thiamine per day. Whole grains and fortified bread, cereals, pasta, and rice contain this nutrient. Additionally, it is present in nuts, seeds, seafood, legumes, and meats.
Since many meals are fortified with this vitamin, most people consume adequate amounts of thiamine. However, you may be more susceptible to developing thiamine deficiency if you take diuretics for high blood pressure or have chronic illnesses that impact your gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system. Your body won't show signs of vitamin insufficiency until you have a severe thiamine deficiency. These are significant symptoms that can include beriberi, muscle weakness, and slow reflexes. This disorder, which has an impact on your cardiovascular symptoms, was common in the past when cereals weren't B vitamin-fortified.
Thiamine is needed by the body to digest alcohol, so if someone is taking too much of it, they may be lacking in it, which is another reason why people may be thiamine deficient. For women, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises consuming no more than one drink each day, and for males, no more than two.
Stretching makes you more flexible and helps your joints keep a healthy range of motion. It also makes you less likely to strain your muscles or joints.
How often should you stretch, though? How long should a stretch be held? How many times should each stretch be done?
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) put together a group of experts to look at a wide range of studies to help answer these questions. Stretching hasn't been studied as thoroughly as other forms of exercise, so the science isn't as strong. But the panel agreed, based on the evidence, that:
Strength and balance exercises may assist elderly persons with heart problems to avoid falls and maintain their independence.
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| Photo by Ivan Samkov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/couple-holding-each-other-s-hands-8127501/ |
Exercise can improve both the length and quality of your life, especially if you start young and stick with it. However, as people age, heart disease and other health issues can derail workout programmes. The ensuing loss of muscle and endurance frequently contributes to frailty, which affects around a quarter of persons over the age of 85 but can develop at earlier ages as well (see "What is frailty?").
Frailty is typically overlooked since it develops gradually. Darlene Harrier, a physical therapist at the Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, says that it's usually a family member who notices that the person looks a little less steady or walks more slowly than usual.
What is frailty?
Clinicians define "frail" as persons 65 and older who have age-related physical decline that makes them vulnerable to injuries and other health problems. Although we commonly associate frail people with a thin body, persons who are overweight or obese can also be frail. Overweight, frail people may be even weaker than their slimmer counterparts because fat has replaced muscle and they have more weight to move around.
You are deemed frail if you match three of the following requirements, according to one widely accepted definition:
You have shed 10 or more pounds without trying in the last year.
You have difficulty standing on your own or have a weak grasp.
You walk slowly; 15 feet takes you more than six or seven seconds.
You are frequently weary and are unable to function three or more days each week.
You're not very active; domestic duties and things you used to enjoy seem too difficult.
Possible choices
But don't think there's nothing you can do if you or your spouse, partner, or parent are weak. People who have had a heart attack or heart surgery may be able to take part in cardiac rehabilitation. But this exercise and lifestyle programme is supervised and has sessions that last an hour several times a week for several months. So, it might not be a good idea for weak people.
Instead, think about working with a physical therapist. They can help people get back their strength and mobility by giving them safe, personalised exercise plans. Harrier says that primary care doctors and geriatricians are usually glad to send their patients to physical therapists. She adds that they want to keep them as independent as possible and reduce the chance that they will fall. During a session, a physical therapist can check a person's heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation at rest and then again after a short period of exercise.
Anti-hypertensive drugs are given by doctors to keep blood pressure under control and lower the chance of having a stroke or heart failure. But when you stand up from lying down or sitting, these drugs can make your blood pressure too low (orthostatic hypotension). This is common among older people. The result is feeling dizzy and faint, which can make it easy to fall.
Medications that slow down the central nervous system are among the most likely to make people fall because they make people less alert and slow down their movements and reactions. These things are:
Drugs like diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam are used to treat anxiety (Ativan)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), is an older antihistamine. It is the most common ingredient in over-the-counter sleep aids like Nyquil, Sominex, and Unisom. This is because it makes you feel sleepy. It is often taken with pain meds like acetaminophen (Tylenol PM), ibuprofen (Motrin PM, Advil PM), and naproxen (Aleve PM).
Music makes us feel better and boosts our mood, and music therapy may help with some health conditions.
Is it possible for music to improve our health and quality of life?
Things are tough. The current political climate, war, the effects of global warming, the continued unfairness caused by systemic racism, and the ongoing physical and mental health problems caused by COVID are all making us feel less safe in the world and lowering our quality of life. We should all be able to find times when we can relax and take our minds off of the bad news we hear every day. For many people, music can help them make that change, even if it's a small one.
How can music change the way we live?
Recently, researchers looked at how music interventions affect the quality of life in terms of health and tried to answer the question of what is the best way to help people let go, relax, and heal. This recent systematic review and meta-analysis (a study of studies) showed that using music interventions (listening to music, singing, and music therapy) can make big changes in mental health and smaller changes in physical health-related quality of life. The researchers found that music has a positive effect on the psychological quality of life, but they didn't find a single best intervention or "dose" of music that works for everyone.
The many parts of music
As complex people who come from many different cultures and have different life experiences and mental and physical health needs, our relationship with music is very personal. Our relationship with music can be a very beautiful, vulnerable, and often complicated dance that changes from moment to moment based on our mood, preferences, social situation, and past experiences. There are times when music can have an immediate and clear effect on how we feel.
Listening to calming music as you get ready for bed
Singing can help you express your emotions, dancing to upbeat dance music can get you moving, and attending a live musical performance can help you make friends.
A board-certified music therapist can assist you in developing this connection to music and in determining the best course of action and dosage that may be beneficial to your health and aid in your recovery.
How can music be used to help people feel better?
Music therapy is a well-established field of health care that uses music interventions that have been shown to help people. Music therapy is done between a patient and (maybe) a board-certified music therapist who has completed an accredited undergraduate or graduate music therapy program, along with caregivers or family members.
Music therapists use both active (singing, exploring instruments, writing songs, moving, making digital music, etc.) and receptive (listening to music, guided imagery with music, making playlists, or talking about music and remembering good times) interventions and set goals to improve health and well-being.
Some of these goals could be to feel less anxious, change your mood, feel less pain during cancer treatment or other medical treatments, express yourself more, find motivation, and so on. A music therapist can help you find the best way to use music to achieve these kinds of goals and improve your quality of life in general.
Top tools for music therapy
This intervention has been looked at the most, and almost every scenario has been studied. You can do it on your own or with the help of music therapy. Live or recorded music can be played. Listening can be done with a clear goal in mind or the background. You can build up feelings to let them go. You can calm your mind with music. Or, you can use the "iso principle" to match music to your current energy or mood and then slowly change the feel, tempo, and complexity to help you change. Listening to music can help you relax or motivate you to work out, move around more, or do something you've been putting off.
Learning an Instrument or Playing One
Actively making music engages your whole brain. This gives people the best chance of being distracted, feeling less pain, learning, improving their fine and gross motor skills, and expressing themselves. Some instruments are made to make it easier for people to learn or express themselves freely.
Set up in a pentatonic scale, for example, a steel tongue drum has a beautiful, resonant sound, no "wrong notes," and is made so you can just play. If you want to use your mind a little, try learning to play the ukulele. There are a lot of great ukulele resources online, and it's easy to move the strings with one or two fingers. Using an instrument to make music can be fun and easy.
A board-certified music therapist can help you find the easiest and most likely-to-work way to express yourself through music. It takes time, patience, and practice to learn how to play an instrument well and read music.
Singing
This can be a great intervention if you have a good connection to your voice and/or a good music therapy relationship where the therapist can help you build your connection to your instrument. Singing is good for your lungs and can make you feel better when you sing lyrics that are true to you. Lastly, being surrounded by strong, tight harmonies brings people together and gives them power.
In conclusion,
Even though there is no one best intervention, magical song, or perfect genre that can make all the hard things in life easier, music can be a powerful tool for change.
Need some help finding the best music tools for you? Here are some places where you can learn more about music therapy and find licensed therapists.
The American Music Therapy Association
Certified Board of Music Therapists
American Psychological Association: Music as Medicine
Photo by Mikhail Nilov
Stair climbing is one of the best ways to improve balance, build stamina, and keep from falling.
One of the best ways to tell if you're healthy is if you can climb a flight of stairs. It's often used to see how mobile and strong you are, how fit you are after an injury, and if it's safe to have sex again after a heart attack. But climbing stairs has a lot more to offer.
Michelle Munley, a physical therapist at Harvard's Spaulding Outpatient Center Peabody, says, "Stair climbing is a great all-around form of exercise for older people because it works multiple muscle groups at once, like your quadriceps, glutes, and calves." It also improves your cardiovascular strength and endurance. " "You can stay more active in life if you know how to go up and down stairs in a safe way."
Going up and down
There are many places to practice climbing stairs, from stair machines in the gym, to stairs in stairways and stadiums, to simple stairs in your own home.
It doesn't matter what kind of stairs you have, but keep in mind that not all steps are the same height, depth, or surface. Also, stairs without handrails are harder to use and may be more dangerous. Munley says, "Pick stairs in a comfortable place with steps you feel safe going up and down."
Also, going down the stairs is equally as vital as going up. When you walk up the stairs, your glutes and quadriceps do concentric contractions, which means they get shorter. When you walk down, on the other hand, the muscles do the opposite, which is called an eccentric, or lengthening, contraction. "Both movements are necessary for muscles to be strong and work well," says Munley.
When everyone was on COVID lockdown in 2020, hiking became a lot more popular. According to a report, the number of hikes in 2020 was 171% higher than in 2019. The number of people hiking alone went up by 135%.
Dr Edward Phillips, an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, says, "This makes sense since hiking remains one of the safest COVID activities because it is done outside and away from confined group settings." "Plus, what's a better way to get away from being stuck inside than to spend some time in nature?"
Not just a walk
Hiking is one of the best ways to feel better in both the body and the mind. First of all, it's a great way to build muscles in your legs. When you hike uphill, you work your hips and buttocks. When you hike downhill, you work your quads (the muscles in the front of your thighs).
Walking is a simple way to work out, but it's not always the best way to keep up the aerobic intensity. "Most people walk slowly and stop and start a lot, which keeps their heart rate from going up," says Dr. Phillips.
But hiking up and down uneven terrain uses more energy than walking on a flat surface. Your body has to work harder, so your heart rate goes up, you burn more calories, and your cardiovascular fitness improves.
You can also learn how to stay steady on your feet by trying to find your footing on a trail. This improves balance, which is a skill that keeps you from taking dangerous falls. As Dr. Phillips says, "When you challenge your body, it will change." So, if the hiking terrain makes you lose your balance, it will force your internal system to get better.
Hiking can also help your mental health. Studies have shown that older people who spend time in nature regularly sleep better, have less stress, less anxiety, and less depression. You can go hiking alone or with other people. Researchers have found that going on a nature walk with a group is just as good for your mental health as going on a hike by yourself.
I am sharing this because I have a young niece who loves to sleep in my room at night, where she grinds her teeth when she is asleep. Here's what you can do if you are told that you grind your teeth at night.
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a type of bacterium that can cause diarrhoea and colitis, is often found in hospitalised people. Even if these people didn't have any symptoms and weren't diagnosed with C. diff while they were in the hospital, new research shows that they could still bring the bacteria home and spread it to their families.
Researchers looked at data from medical insurance plans for households with at least two people on the same plan to find people who had hospital stays but were not diagnosed with C. diff. They found that once these people went home, other people in the same household were 73 per cent more likely to need treatment for a C. diff infection within 60 days than other people in the same insurance plan who did not have a family member who had recently been in the hospital. The longer a person stays in the hospital, the more likely they are to get an infection. Households, where someone spent a month or more in the hospital, had almost double the risk for C. diff than those where someone was in the hospital for one to three days.
Some individuals believe that their joints ultimately wear out like car tyres and that the more they are used, the faster they deteriorate until they must be replaced. But joints don't work like Michelins.
Most likely, this wrong comparison comes from calling osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, "wear and tear" arthritis, which is not right.
When the smooth cartilage that lines a joint deteriorates, osteoarthritis develops. Sometimes this happens after an injury (like a broken bone), but age, family history, obesity, and diseases that cause joint inflammation to last for a long time are more common causes.
A biopsy is a sample of tissue taken from the body and inspected under a microscope. A doctor performs a breast biopsy to remove tissue from a problematic location so that a pathologist may assess whether the sample contains malignant cells.
What Is It Used For?
Due to a rise in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that monkeypox is a "global health emergency."
Despite the WHO's emergency committee failing to come to an agreement on Saturday, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decided to make the proclamation.
When a worldwide emergency is declared, it signifies that the monkeypox outbreak is an "exceptional event" that may spread to other nations and necessitates a coordinated international response.
What is monkeypox and what symptoms might it cause?
The WHO has already declared emergencies for public health disasters like the COVID pandemic, the West African Ebola outbreak in 2014, the Zika virus in Latin America in 2016, and the ongoing fight to eradicate polio.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that since May, more than 16,000 people in 74 countries have been diagnosed with monkeypox.
The news on Saturday would make people spend more money on treating diseases and make it harder to get scarce vaccines.
As 71 percent of cases are reported in London, monkeypox is a "deep worry."
Monkeypox has only been linked to deaths in Africa, mostly in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a more dangerous strain of the virus is spreading.
It is rare to contract monkeypox. The latest incidences elsewhere in the world are unique because they are often carried by wild animals in places like the west or central Africa
Monkeypox is spreading among individuals who have no connections to animals or recent travel to Africa in Europe, North America, and other places.
Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the top specialist on monkeypox for the WHO, stated last week that men made up 99 per cent of all instances of monkeypox outside of Africa and that 98 percent of those cases were men who had sex with men.
Experts think that the outbreaks in Europe and North America were caused by sexual contact at two raves in Belgium and Spain.
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| Handout image issued by the UK Health Security Agency of the stages of Monkeypox.Credit: UKHSA/PA |
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
It usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms of the infection to appear.
The first symptoms of monkeypox include:
a high temperature
a headache
muscle aches
backache
swollen glands
shivering (chills)
exhaustion
A rash, which often begins on the face before spreading, usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms.
The rash, sometimes confused with chickenpox, starts as raised spots before becoming small fluid-filled blisters. The blisters eventually form scabs and later fall off.
Symptoms usually clear up in two to four weeks.
The plant-based milk shake-up: pea, pistachio, oat, almond, and potato milk.
So, are these new options nutritionally superior to other plant milk, or are they simply the same?
Some information on plant-based milk
Nuts, beans, or grains are ground into a pulp, strained, and mixed with water to produce plant-based milk. For the majority of brands, you're left with less than 10% of the original plant. Variable quantities of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and protein are added. Any alternative milk provides comparable levels of these nutrients compared to cow's milk.
Plant-based milk is deemed "greener" than dairy milk since they produce fewer greenhouse gases. However, the cultivation of some of these plants and their transformation into milk necessitates vast quantities of water. Low-calorie plant-based milk is the norm. However, these milk products are more expensive than dairy on average.
What is Hypothyroidism?
Your thyroid gland cannot create the proper quantity of thyroid hormone if you have hypothyroidism. Your thyroid gland is not active enough. The lower front of the neck is where the thyroid gland is situated.
Women experience hypothyroidism more frequently than men. Babies can be born with hypothyroidism.
Even a small cavity or crack that is virtually invisible can allow bacteria to enter your tooth and infect the pulp at its centre. All of the tissue, nerves, and blood vessels that keep your tooth healthy are found in the pulp. If the pulp is removed, your tooth can still exist with just the dentin and enamel. However, if the infected pulp is not removed, the infection can lead to pain, swelling, and other issues with your smile.
Volunteering, helping others, and engaging in a pastime may appear to be everyday activities. However, a new study suggests that engaging in meaningful activities in old age improves cognitive health. The study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Despite the formation of aberrant protein depositions (amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles) in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, participants who reported higher levels of purpose in life had a superior cognitive function.
Dr. Gad Marshall, a behavioural neurologist at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, says, "The authors provide excellent evidence that having a purpose makes it possible to survive more Alzheimer's disease pathology without as much cognitive impairment."
The advantages of having a purpose
The study included 246 older people who did not have dementia at the time of the study's start. The participants were given annual clinical examinations for an average of ten years, which included cognitive testing and questions about their life's purpose. When they died, postmortem examinations were performed to check for evidence of Alzheimer's disease in the brain, such as minute plaques and tangles. Some plaques and tangles are seen in the brains of older adults who do not have Alzheimer's disease symptoms, but those who do have the condition have more.
Even though stress is something we all encounter, everyone experiences stress in a different way. Others who are under stress could experience digestive problems or a loss of appetite, while others of us experience an elevated heart rate or trouble sleeping.
Let's examine the various forms of stress, their effects on our bodies, and the steps we can take to manage stress in our lives more effectively.
Health Effects of Stress
Acute or chronic stress can be widely characterised. Acute stress, such as the kind you might experience if you are late for a meeting, might actually be good for you and your body, but chronic stress is more dangerous to your health and wellness.
Chronic stress is described as "a persistent experience of feeling hurried and overwhelmed over a lengthy period of time" by Yale Medicine.
Long-term stress can have a variety of detrimental effects on your body. In fact, stress that is not handled can exacerbate significant medical disorders including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. 2
Changes to your work and home environments, the addition of meditation to your daily routine, adjustments to your food and exercise routines, and the use of vitamins and other goods may all be necessary for stress management. One of these adjustments has the potential to significantly reduce stress in particular situations. Others may require a more major change in habits and lifestyle to relieve stress.
Here is my list of the best tools and techniques for lowering stress.
Stress-supporting supplements
The pressures in your life cannot be eliminated by taking a pill. However, a few of them might be able to lessen your stress levels and improve how you handle them.
Ashwagandha
One of the most widely used herbs in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha has been used for generations to reduce stress, enhance focus, and boost vitality. As an adaptogen, this herb has the potential to aid in stress management.
As a capsule, tablet, or gummy, ashwagandha is simple to add to your regular self-care regimen.
6 Signs You're Dehydrated
This means that you require a lot of water to flush out waste materials, lubricate joints, wet tissues in the eyes, nose, and mouth, and regulate body temperature.
It should be a primary concern to consume enough fluids, but many people frequently don't do so, which can result in long-term dehydration.
Dehydration can occur for a variety of reasons, including inadequate fluid intake. Dehydration can also be brought on by other illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, heavy perspiration, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Dehydration Warning Signs
When left untreated, dehydration can be a dangerous condition that poses a risk to one's life. Therefore, it's crucial to be aware of the symptoms and signs of dehydration in order to take charge of your health.
1. Headaches
You might have headaches more frequently if you are dehydrated. It makes more sense if you keep in mind that the brain is 73 percent water. According to one study, "brain dehydration" is a condition where there is hypertonicity in the brain due to dehydration.
This means that due to water loss, the structures in the brain, blood vessels, and regions of the brain that perceive pain, tighten up and put more pressure on these places, resulting in headaches.
It's interesting to note that the same study found that dehydrated people perceived pain more strongly. This suggests that people who are dehydrated are more likely to suffer pain than those who are sufficiently hydrated.
2. Tiredness
Fatigue and dehydration have been connected. According to one study, female hockey players who didn't drink water during a simulated activity found that they were more dehydrated than when they did.
The same study also revealed that these athletes struggled to keep their core body temperatures lower, which caused them to perceive themselves as getting hotter more quickly.
Dehydration's effect on the body's ability to regulate its temperature might also make you feel more exhausted.
3. Confussion and Brain Fog
Dehydration can cause brain fog and cognitive deterioration, and older people are more likely to have severe confusion.
According to a meta-analysis, dehydration that causes a loss of 2 per cent or more of body mass results in a variety of negative cognitive effects.
Slower reaction times, worse motor control, less accurate short-term memory, and decreased capacity to pay attention were among the bothersome signs of dehydration.
There are many meals that are ideal for summer dining, but I have selected my top ten favourites. These meals are not only filling but also delicious and appropriate for any summer event.
Specific nutrients for months with warmer weather.
Your nutritional requirements change along with the seasons. You probably spend more time outdoors during the warmer months, engaging in sports, gardening, or other activities that cause you to perspire more. Sweat loss results in a need for replenishment.
The summer sun can also harm your skin if you spend time outside during that period. Wearing sunscreen and sun-protective clothes is the best approach to protect your skin when you're outside, but some foods can help reduce the harm that UV rays do to your skin.
In the summer, your body needs these essential nutrients even more, so be sure to eat plenty of them:
When you perspire, you lose vital electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Try adding an electrolyte powder to your drink to stay hydrated and replace the important minerals you lose when you sweat.
Vitamin C: According to certain research, vitamin C may help shield skin from UV radiation damage.
After spending the day in the sun, make sure you get plenty of this potent antioxidant.
Since vitamin D is known as the "sunshine vitamin," it may appear as though you wouldn't have to worry about obtaining enough of it throughout the summer. However, research indicates that 42% of Americans lack enough vitamin D. 10. Don't disregard this essential vitamin just because the days are longer and sunnier.
Eat seasonal foods.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are collected in the summer. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are immediately transported from the farm to your table after being gathered at their optimal ripeness. They are therefore more scrumptious and nourishing than vegetables that had to travel across the globe to get to you.
Most of the time, eating seasonal fruits and vegetables also saves you money and helps the local farmers who grow your food.
Eating seasonal, local vegetables has many benefits, but my favourite is that it simply tastes better. Additionally, summer is the best time to buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are simply not accessible at other times of the year.
Produce that is in season offers more nutrients.
The fact that eating in-season provides you with more nutrients than eating out-of-season may surprise you. Fruits and vegetables contain more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants when they are in s eason.This is so that local food can be picked when it is most ripe and doesn't have to travel as far to get to your table.
Many nutrients start to degrade over time after a fruit or vegetable is selected. As a result, produce that has been transported a long way or kept for a long time has lost some of its nutritional value by the time it gets to your table.
Since summer fruit has a high concentration of vitamins A and C, which are crucial for immunity, skin, and eye health, it is extremely healthy for you. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are a great choice because they have fewer calories and more water than other foods.
If there is a farmer's market close by, visit it to check what's on offer before going to the store. Uncertain of the particular summertime in-season items? The top seasonal summer dishes are listed below for you to add to your list.
This Summer's Top 10 Plant-Based Foods
1. Watermelon
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| Photo by KoolShooters from Pexels: |
Not only is watermelon in season, but it also contains 90% water, making it the ideal summer snack. Watermelon is nourishing and cooling due to its high water content, making it ideal for a hot summer day.
Contrary to popular belief, swallowing the seeds won't cause a watermelon to ripen within your stomach. What's not to love about this classic summer fruit, which is rich in vitamins A and C as well as the potent antioxidant lycopene.
5 WAYS TO SEASON WATERMELON
2. Bell peppers
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| Photo by Reschelle Lowndes from Pexels |
In terms of vitamins A, C, and B-complex, peppers are a good source. Actually, compared to citrus fruits, bell peppers provide substantially more vitamin C. They also contain copper, manganese, and fibre.
Green, yellow, and red is just a few of the colours that bell peppers can be. Actually, unripe green peppers have a less sweet flavour than yellow or red peppers. Some even claim that the flavour of green bell peppers is bitter. Red bell peppers are significantly sweeter and might make a better snack option. Peppers can be roasted, eaten raw, or turned into salsa, regardless of colour.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF RED PEPPERS
3. Tomatoes
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| Photo by PhotoMIX Company from Pexels |
Lycopene can also be found in abundance in tomatoes (just like watermelons). Generally speaking, a tomato's red colour indicates how much lycopene it contains. 2
On a grilled veggie burger, tomatoes are one of the best foods to eat.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF TOMATOES
4. Lemon
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| Photo by Lisa from Pexels |
Lemons are especially good for plant-based eaters because their high vitamin C content makes it easier for the body to absorb iron when eaten with other plant foods.
Red lentils and leafy greens are two excellent plant-based sources of iron.
Lemon enhances the flavour of both savoury and sweet foods. And always remember to make lemonade when life gives you lemons!
5. Corn
A traditional summertime dish, sweet corn is excellent for picnics and barbecues. If you're lucky enough to live in the Midwest this summer, you won't have a hard time finding sweet corn that tastes great.
In addition to being a staple of the summer, sweet corn has many health advantages. Fibre from corn can aid in regulating digestion and preventing constipation. A and C vitamins, which are crucial for maintaining healthy skin and eyes, are also abundant in them. Corn's potassium content aids in controlling blood pressure.