Written by Jo Ebisujima
POWER can be defined in a multitude of different ways. Perhaps it means being able to lift a ton, jump over a mountain or conquer your favourite superhero. To me, POWER means having the ability to thrive in every aspect of your life. Regardless of how you define it, whole fruits and vegetables are storehouses of the power you need for optimal health.
POWER OF IMMUNITY
Fruits and vegetables can provide you with the power to supercharge your immune system and avoid those nasty ailments that come around every year. Green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits are nutritional powerhouses and rich sources of vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc, each of which has been proven to reduce the likelihood of contracting the common cold. Further to this, whole fruits and vegetables such as berries, broccoli and spinach contain powerful nutrients that are proven therapeutics against conditions ranging from heart disease to cancer.
POWER TO HEAL
Even when you’ve done your best to fight off the common cold and the flu, everyone is likely to get a mild sniffle every now and then. Fortunately, fruits and vegetables can give you the power to heal and get you back to tip-top shape in no time. Vitamin C has been proven to reduce the severity and length of colds. Citrus fruits and vegetables such as broccoli and capsicum are rich sources of this nutrient. In addition, a comforting bowl of broth-based vegetable soup can help to keep your nasal passages moist, prevent dehydration, and fight inflammation in the throat.
POWER TO ENERGISE
Fruits and vegetables provide you with both short bursts and long lasting energy to give you the power of energy throughout the day. Bananas are well known as nature’s energy snack and they can provide you with an energy surge when you’re feeling a little lackluster. On the other hand, nutrient dense greens such as spinach and broccoli provide your body with the nutrients and minerals it needs for energy all day long.
POWER TO OPTIMISE DIGESTION
Digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhoea and constipation seem to a common occurrence in this day and age. Fortunately, fruits and vegetables can provide you with the power to boost your digestive health. Bitter greens such as kale, rocket, dandelion greens and spinach alongside lemon water or apple cider vinegar are great for stimulating hydrochloric acid and enzyme secretion which are essential for proper digestion. Whole fruits and vegetables are also great sources of fibre which can help in reducing bloating, keeping you regular and speeding up the body’s detoxification processes.
With so many benefits and so little effort required, consuming whole fruits and vegetables is a certified route to obtaining POWER.
