Did you know that the food and drink we eat at Christmas can be healthy for us?
Here’s a list of popular foods consumed over the holidays broken down:
Turkey – a good quality, locally sourced and organic turkey can provide loads of health benefits. Its an excellent source of tryptophan, a precursor for the production of B3, 5-HTP, serotonin and melatonin production. B3 is for energy production, serotonin is commonly known as our ‘happy’ hormone and melatonin promotes our sleep cycle. It’s also a great source of other B vitamins and also zinc which is vital to keep our immune system in tip top condition and fighting off the sniffles and coughing that other family members may be suffering from.
Brussels sprouts – I LOVE Brussels sprouts.
How can you not? A cup of sprouts provides you with more than your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin K and Vitamin C. Vitamin K1 in green vegetables and herbs is essential for blood clotting and bone health. Vitamin C has numerous vital properties, so many in fact, and we don’t store it so we need to consume ample amounts each day. Your cup of sprouts will provide this! Those little green balls also contain sulphur, the mineral that makes them smelly and that also makes you fart! But, before that puts you off, sulphur is amazing for healthy skin, hair and nails and is also essential for our bodies detoxification process!
Cranberries – the little red berries pack a punch of phytonutrients. Some have been studied for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, and the results have been impressive. The proanthocyanidins in cranberries block certain bacteria latching on to the urinary tract lining, hence their application in urinary tract infections. New studies are now seeing if cranberries can be useful for overgrowth of other bacteria such as Helicobacter Pylori.
Raw Nuts – the nutcracker is synonymous with Christmas – and so are nuts in their shell! The shell keeps them fresher for longer and keeps all those precious and therapeutic oils from going rancid. So go ahead, eat up! Each nut has a slightly different nutrient profile so variety is best. Brazil nuts are famed for their selenium content – needed for a healthy thyroid, walnuts are richest in Omega-3 oils – very anti-inflammatory, and generally nuts are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and minerals such as magnesium, manganese and phosphorus.
Red Wine – should I be advocating alcohol? Oh why not, it is Christmas after all. A good quality red wine in small quantities (no more than 100ml per day which is not a lot) has been shown to be beneficial for heart health, and also, its a fermented food, and we love anything fermented – right? Haha
Happy Feasting Everyone !!
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