Did you realise there are important foods you can eat which can help you fight coronary disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and digestive problems like constipation, flatulence, bloating and allergies, just to name a few?

Not many people realise there are many important foods available from your Healthy Life store which are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, omega 3 essential fatty acids and phytochemicals which have extra-ordinary health benefits.

Protect Your Entire Body Against Disease
There foods that can boost your immune system, reduce cholesterol, combat heart disease and ward off serious diseases like Alzheimer’s. There are foods which have anti-inflammatory properties and are ideal for Arthritis sufferers. And there are foods which can help your digestive system so you are better are to deal with constipation, flatulence, bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bad breath, allergies and intestinal immunity.

Phytochemicals
Found in plant foods, phytochemicals are nutrients which contain disease protective properties. They are best known for their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties used to protect body cells against antioxidant damage and the consequential threat of cancer. Amongst the most recognised phytochemicals are lycopene, isoflavones, flavanoids, polyphenols, lignans and indoles.

Functional foods containing phytochemicals include all fruit and vegetables, legumes, pulses, nuts, seeds and wholegrains.

Probiotics
Probiotics improve gastrointestinal health and the absorption of nutrients by increasing the number of beneficial intestinal bacteria in your gut. Probiotics can help with constipation, flatulence, bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bad breath, allergies and intestinal immunity. Probiotic foods can help repopulate your good bacteria in the gut and encourage complete digestion. Amongst the most recognised probiotics are Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, yeast and inulin.

Functional foods containing probiotics include natural yoghurt with active live cultures, fermented foods such as miso, wholegrains, onions, honey and some packaged foods containing inulin.

Plant Sterols
Plant sterols are naturally occurring fats that help to reduce the risk of heart disease by blocking the absorption of cholesterol into the blood stream.

Functional foods containing plant sterols include nuts, seeds, legumes and in smaller quantities, vegetables and fruit. Plant sterol spreads are also widely available and in quantities of 1 – 1 ½ tablespoons a day have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels by an average of 10%.

Fibre
Fibre is known to help reduce certain types of cancer and maintain a healthy digestive tract, helping you with constipation and other digestive problems. In addition its presence in your diet may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and contribute to the maintenance of healthy blood glucose levels.

Functional foods containing fibre include fruit and vegetables, beans, pulses, nuts, seeds, wholegrains and bran.

Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids play a vital role in reducing inflammation, maintaining brain function and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are some of the most researched functional components in food and are used to fortify numerous foods including bread, eggs and cereal.

Naturally occurring functional foods containing omega 3 fatty acids include; salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, walnuts and flax seeds.

Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds or linseeds contain powerful phytochemicals that have a functional role throughout your body. Both flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are excellent sources of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an Omega 3 fatty acid, and as such protect the body against coronary heart disease and help to reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Flaxseeds contain lignans which with the help of intestinal flora are converted into two hormone like substances which, studies have shown, can help protect women against breast cancer. In addition they are an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fibre and promote digestive health by preventing constipation.

To find out more about these and other fabulous functional foods speak to the friendly staff at your local Healthy Life store. They’ll only be too happy to discuss with you the extensive range of functional foods Healthy Life has available.