The Food Within You…or…You Within the Food?

Friedrich Nietzsche once  said: “ The body is a big sagacity, a plurality with one sense, a war and a peace, a flock and a shepherd.“ For every time I think of his wise words, I reassure myself again that the perfection of a human body will never stop amazing me. When I was doing some research, I came across a study which reveals another of nature’s great masterpieces, explaining that human body is actually trying to talk to us and give us some hints about how we should nourish ourselves in order to boost some of the most essential parts of our body. The study shows that some food items are similar to the organs of our body…and this relation is not accidental !!! Let’s have a look at some of the ‘food- looking’ body parts…or ‘body-looking’ food items….?  

1) CARROT – EYES

When you slice the carrot, you will see the layers that are very similar to the iris of a human eye. This similarity is definitely not just a coincidence. Carrots contain beta-carotene which is converted by our body into vitamin A, an important nutrient for overall eye health. Deficiency of the vitamin A can easily lead to dryness in the eyes, swollen eyelids, corneal ulcers or even blindness. There is no doubt that this vegetable helps to promote the overall health of our eyesight.

Eating Options: raw carrot, carrot cream soup, carrot-cabbage salad, carrot-potatoes puree

“The Eyes are the window to your soul”

― William Shakespeare

2) WALNUT-BRAIN

Next time you will be thinking of what kind of snack you’re going to grab in the supermarket, don’t go for the package of crisps and rather grab a pack of walnuts. You will not only please your stomach, but your brain as well. Walnut that reminds us of left and right hemisphere of the human brain is full of omega-3s, necessary for its flexibility. The human brain is made up of about 60% of the structural fat that needs high-quality fats like omega-3s to function efficiently. Eating walnuts also prevents depressions and mental diseases, so by eating walnuts you will not only improve your exam results but your mental well-being as well.

Eating Options: walnut pesto, salad with walnuts, walnuts with honey

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

 ― Dr. Seuss

3) GRAPEFRUIT-BREASTS

If you sometimes find yourself thinking of the similarity of women’s breasts with this sour citrus fruit, you will be surprised that scientists offer us an explanation which says that the similarity isn’t accidental at all. Grapefruits contain natural compounds limonoids, that play a role in breast cancer prevention. Limonoids have the ability to induce programmed cell death of the cancer cells. The good news is that preventing breast cancer is not the only reason to consume citrus limonoids, though. In the lab, limonoids have shown cytotoxicity to colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, neuroblastoma, leukemia, and others.

Eating Options: grapefruit juice,  salad with grapefruit, grapefruit brulee

 “There’s a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours.”


 ― Cary Elwes

 4) TOMATO-HEART

When you cut the tomato in a half, you will see many chambers that resemble the shape of a human heart. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant which helps to reduce the risk of heart diseases and some cancerous diseases. Tomatoes are also a very good source of potassium, which is recommended to patients with high blood pressure as it helps to lower it. Vitamin B6, present in each tomato, helps to convert dangerous chemical homocysteine, which damages blood vessel walls, into other harmless molecules.

Eating Options: raw tomatoes, tomato soup, tomato juice, tomato sauce, tomato salad, tomatoes with basil and mozzarella

“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”

― Buddha

5) GINGER-STOMACH

When you have a closer look at the ginger root, you will see that it resembles of one of the most important organs of human body, our stomach. That’s why it should not surprise us that ginger help us with digestion and maintains our stomach healthy and stable. Ginger’s root contains gingerols and shogaols, which help to treat upset stomach, motion sickness and relieving the nausea and stomach flu. Ginger has always been one of the main ingredients in Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Indian cuisine as it helped to disinfect possible bacteria within the food and boost the digestion process.

Eating Options: raw ginger, ginger tea, ginger juice, gingerbread, ginger-vegetable rice noodles, sushi with ginger

“Indigestion is charged by God with enforcing morality on the stomach.” 

― Victor Hugo

6) CELERY-BONES

Long, green stalks of celery can often remind us the shape of human bones. Celery contains the essential mineral calcium that is vital to the development and maintenance of strong bones, and can help to prevent bone loss during the menopause. Celery also contains vitamin K that suppresses decreases in spinal bone mineral density. Whether you serve it raw, crispy or cooked, celery will enrich your body with phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins.

Eating Options: celery soup, stewed celery, pasta with celery, celery salad, celery spread, celery juice

“I have no history but the length of my bones.”

 ―  Robin Skelton

7) AVOCADO-UTERUS

Avocado has always been related to human fertility not only because of its shape that resembles female uterus, but also because of its nutritional benefits that boost the function of hormones. Aztecs considered avocado as the “fertility fruit” as it has a high vitamin E content, which balances the hormones, sheds excess baby weight and helps to prevent cervical cancers. Interesting fact about avocado tells us that the stone in the avocado not only resembles a baby in the womb but it takes exactly 9 months for one avocado to grow from a blossom to a ripened fruit.

Eating Options: Guacamole, avocado salad, chicken with avocado, avocado spread, avocado soup, avocado fajita

“There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we”

― Ina May Gaskin

8) RED WINE-BLOOD 

Are you feeling guilty for every time you drink a glass of red wine? If you drink it from time to time, DON’T BE! Red wine doesn’t not only remind the natural color of our blood but is also rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, including resveratrol, which prevents damage to blood vessels, reduces “bad” cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Additionally, polyphenols help to protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. So don’t hesitate and grab a glass of red wine once in a while, and the best option would be the non-alcoholic one.

Eating Options: red wine, red wine with fruits, additional ingredient when cooking (risotto, deer)

“Blood alone moves the wheels of history.”

― Martin Luther

 

9) MUSHROOM – EAR

Similarly as with a carrot, when you slice the mushroom in a half, you will quickly realize how much it resembles the shape of a human ear. Mushroom contains vitamin D which is essential for our bones, (as it helps the body to use calcium )especially the tiny ones in the ear, which transmit sound to the brain. Researches also showed that most of the patients that are reported with bilateral cochlear deafness are associated with vitamin D deficiency.

Eating Options: mushroom cream soup, stewed mushrooms as a side dish, mushroom risotto

“The ear is the avenue to the heart.”

― Voltaire

10) BANANA- LIPS/SMILE

Does the half moon shape of one of the sweetest fruits remind you of something? Banana contains an amino acid called tryptophan which, when digested, turns into serotonin. Serotonin is known as our “mood neurotransmitter” which keeps us emotionally and socially stable. So next time, you will be doing some food shopping, don’t take the good old banana for granted, grab one and cheer yourself up with this delicious fruit.

Eating Options: bananas with honey and walnuts, banana with rice and meat (Cuban cuisine) banana with cream and chocolate

 “A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home.” 


 ―Bishop Sheen

Sources/Pictures:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/carrots-eyesight.htm

http://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamin-d-deficiency

http://www.dailynews.lk/2002/01/26/fea06.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/038235_lemon_extract_breast_cancer_tumor_cells.html

http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/nutrition/foods-that-look-like-body-parts-theyre-good-for-109151

http://www.smashinglists.com/8-look-alike-food-organs-and-their-health-benefits/2/

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/06/walnuts-the-ultimate-brain-food.html

http://www.tomatodirt.com/tomato-facts-health-benefits.html

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/using-ginger-to-treat-upset-stomach.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/508277-health-benefits-of-celery-on-the-bones/

http://www.theflamingvegan.com/view-post/Fruit-of-the-Womb

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089

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