The other day my husband and I were making vegetable juice and he asked me what the health benefits of celery were. I had to admit, I knew celery was healthy, but couldn’t come up with the reasons off the top of my head. I decided to do some research. Turns out, celery is not just good for carrying peanut butter to your mouth! It has a host of health benefits!

​Zucchini is a great little vegetable that is low on calories and high on health benefits. In fact, a medium zucchini has only 33 calories, but still manages to make you feel full because of its fiber and water content! This makes zucchini an excellent choice if you are trying to lose weight or just eat healthier! Read on for more health benefits of zucchini!

Do you love the aromatic, spicy flavor of ginger? I have to admit that I didn’t used to love it, but it has grown on me and now I love it! Did you know that ginger’s amazing flavor comes along with a host of health benefits?

Do you like cauliflower? What’s your favorite way to make it? Numerous studies have shown that what you eat can have a big impact on your risk for cancer. Some of these studies have shown that cauliflower is especially beneficial for preventing certain types of cancer, such as breast, lung, stomach, colon and liver cancers.

Are you over 30 and find yourself stressed to the point that you feel overwhelmed or depressed? You may be low in DHEA.

DHEA is a natural steroid and precursor hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys. It naturally begins to decline after age 30.
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Your adrenal glands also produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. If you are producing too many stress hormones as a result of stress, your body can’t produce enough DHEA to support a healthy hormone balance. This will cause you to feel overwhelmed and depressed.

With all the buzz about quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) in the last decade, the odds are that you have tried it. Did you feel like it lived up to all the hype? This naturally gluten-free whole grain has a very mild, nutty flavor, so for flavorful quinoa you must add plenty of seasonings. Eating 3 servings of whole grains every day can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.
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Quinoa is packed full of nutrients, so it is considered a superfood. Plus it is one of the least allergenic grains, so it’s great for those with wheat allergies.

Did you grow up thinking you needed to drink at least a glass of milk a day to be healthy? The problem is, a large number of people have trouble digesting milk. In fact, milk allergies are the most common allergy in children. The negative effects of milk consumption can range from digestive symptoms to allergies to a possible increase in risk of diabetes and certain cancers. This is why many people have opted to consume non-dairy milks out of necessity or for health reasons.

Pros:

• Has a slightly sweet flavor and is similar in texture to milk.
• Provides about half your daily dose of vitamin E.
• Contains vitamins A and D.
• Contains only about 1/3 the calories of cow’s milk and half the fat.
• Many varieties are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
• Contains neither saturated fat nor cholesterol.

Cons:

• Contains less protein than milk and is higher in carbs.
• Unless fortified, is lacking other vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids found in cow’s milk.
• It is not a suitable formula for infants.

Have you ever wondered what all the hype is about kale? Have you ever tried it? Kale is a nutrient-packed leafy green that has lots of health benefits. In fact, kale makes spinach pale in comparison to its nutrient content.

Kale has lots of fiber, which can benefit both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. A high fiber diet helps keep blood sugar levels down in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and people with type 2 diabetes may have improved cholesterol and insulin levels. Kale also contains an antioxidant, known as alpha-lipoic acid, that has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, increase insulin sensitivity, prevent oxidative stress changes, and decrease neuropathy.

​Butternut squash is a member of the gourd family and has lots of nutritional benefits.  Its skin is yellow-beige, but inside its bright orange.  Its brilliant color comes from beta-carotene, an antioxidant you’re your body turns into vitamin A.  Studies show that vitamin A helps keep your eyesight sharp by deterring macular degeneration. It also helps prevent breast cancer.  

Do you just love to have some fresh garlic on your pasta? Well, that’s good! Fresh garlic is much more beneficial for your heart than dried garlic, a study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found.  There is a chemical released when fresh garlic is cut, called hydrogen sulfide, which relaxes blood vessels.  Garlic is commonly used to help treat hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Some people also use it to help prevent colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer.

The compounds in garlic break down easily due to heating or being cut. A study in Japan compared garlic preserved in water, alcohol, vegetable oil and fresh garlic.  They were measuring a compound known was allicin, which is garlic’s main active ingredient and what gives garlic its strong smell.  They found that allicin dissipates quickly once garlic is cut.  Scientists believe that allicin has antibacterial properties that may help prevent food poisoning and bacterial infections.  Allicin may also help prevent blood clots and certain cancers.  Even though allicin breaks down quickly, scientists believe that the compounds it breaks into may still be beneficial.  So get out your garlic crusher and mince away!