Every cell, muscle and organ in a child’s body needs protein. When kids eat protein-rich foods, their bodies break the protein down into amino acids that they need to grow and function optimally. Meat, poultry, fish, beans, tofu, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds and grains can all help your child get an adequate amount of…
Raspberry tea may consist of the fruit or dried leaves of the raspberry plant. Raspberry iced tea, a popular and refreshing summer beverage, is made by adding fresh raspberry juice or extract to black tea and serving it with ice. Raspberry leaf tea is bitterer and does not taste like raspberries. Both types of tea…
Fruit contains a natural sugar called fructose. Unlike sucrose, or table sugar, fructose does not cause abrupt fluctuations in your blood sugar levels because your body digests it more slowly than sucrose, according to researchers of a study published in 2008 in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” who added that diabetics are often advised…
Pigeon peas, a popular vegetable in tropical countries, are healthy and versatile. Ripe pigeon peas are a common ingredient in dhal, an Indian split-pea soup. Immature pigeon pea seeds, also called green pigeon peas, are reputed as an old folk medicine remedy for liver and kidney ailments, according to Purdue University, but they offer real…
Richly colored vegetables are pleasing to the eye and appear fresh and nutritious in the store and on the table. Flavonoids, the natural pigments that give plants their color, have antioxidant, or cell-protecting, properties. So naturally brightly colored vegetables are richer in antioxidants than their dull-colored counterparts. Some food manufacturers use dyes to make their…
The addition of fish to the early human diet may have been responsible for the fall of the Neanderthal, according to Erik Trinkaus of Washington University. Early humans ate red meat almost exclusively, but when some of them added fish to their diets, they began to experience drastic increases in their cognitive capacity, setting them…
Spinach is virtually free of fat, sugar and cholesterol. Each cup of raw spinach contains only 7 calories, so it is a wise addition to your diet if you are trying to lose weight. It is also rich in vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, and it is easy to pair with side dishes, making it a…
Sugar cane juice is popular in parts of Southeast Asia and South America, where sugar cane is an important crop. You may even see it for sale at farmers markets or festivals in the southeastern United States, as it is widely produced in Florida and Louisiana. Although it appears to provide few nutritional benefits, it…
The dark color in blackberries makes them stand out in fruit salads and desserts, but it also indicates a high concentration of antioxidants. Research suggests that their vitamin content may help reduce your risk of heart problems, periodontal disease and age-related decline in motor and cognitive function. Blackberries are low in calories, virtually fat free,…
A banana is a sweet, conveniently-packaged food, providing you with approximately 110 calories of high-fiber nutrition in each serving. Because your body uses carbohydrates before protein and fat, eating a banana can give you a quick energy boost, making them popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Most of the benefits bananas offer are in the…
