A RECENT health scare got everybody in the family scrambling for a healthier diet.
My niece Krystalle had a bout with little, ancient creatures invading her nose. At first, she thought it was an ordinary case of a nose not agreeing with the dusty air.
When her sniffles didn’t go away and streaks of blood showed in the issue, she was understandably alarmed. She wisely sought the help of a health provider and she was soon rid of the space invaders in her nose.
My Uncle Gustave recently also had his regular checkup with his cardiologist. “My doctor said my bad cholesterol is a bit high. He’s putting me under medication and a healthier diet,” he told us.
It is fortunate that we now have many website sources specializing in healthy food and diets. I’m pretty sure you have heard about the goodness of green tea, certain berries and fad diets that aficionados swear are not fads.
Now comes Business Insider with a caveat. According to the website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there is no need to follow all the fads and trends. A health buff only has to eat more of certain ordinary food items to stay healthy.
I found it surprising that many of the food items on the list are indeed common. A dieter or a sensible guy need not buy exotic berries or expensive food mixes. Here are some of the super food that are super because they are within our reach.
CABBAGE. Good old cabbage is an ignored super food. It is a good source of iron, fiber and calcium. Chop it up and saute with canned mackerel and you have a good dish to go with the ride.
CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI. Super food? Super yes. It’s a good source of folate. Steam and drizzle with olive oil vinaigrette dressing or saute with mushrooms.
SCALLIONS. Scallions, green onions and chives—they are good to the body after all. According to Business Insider, people can get vitamins C and A from scallions. Green onions add flavor to chicken soup and congee.
ARUGULA. Everybody in the house likes this veggie. We’ve tried it with olive oil dressing or tossed with goat cheese and lemon or mixed with sliced grapes and orange wedges.
PUMPKIN. They are not only good as Halloween decorations, pumpkins really do add to man’s health. They are good sources of potassium, fiber and vitamins. Cebu’s equivalent is kalabasang pula or kalabasa in Tagalog. It is usually cooked with coconut milk, string beans and shrimps.