More Standout Foods Take Center Stage

By Amy Campbell At a time when it seems like we're constantly being told what NOT to eat, it's refreshing to know that there are so many healthful, nutritious foods that are available for our enjoyment. So, without further ado, here are a few more for your consideration! Garlic. Garlic is one of those foods that people tend to either love or hate. Its other name is the "stinking rose," which is fitting, given its pungent smell and flavor. Garlic belongs to the same family as onions and leeks, and it's rich in sulfur-containing compounds called thiosulfinates, sulfoxides, and dithiins. Don't worry about what these are, let alone try to pronounce them. What IS important is that these compounds provide a host of health benefits. For example, garlic is known to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats), and also protect blood vessels from oxidative stress (oxidative stress triggers inflammation that, in turn, can lead to plaque buildup inside artery walls). Garlic can prevent blood clots and lower blood pressure. And in a recent study, researchers discovered that garlic can lower C-reactive protein (another marker of inflammation) and adenosine deaminase (an enzyme involved in metabolism), which have both been linked to increasing complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease and nerve damage, in people with Type 2 diabetes. Besides being rich in sulfur substances, garlic also contains a decent amount of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and selenium. You really can't go wrong...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs