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Take Parsnips as a partner against stroke. Parsnips look like carrots who have seen a ghost. But don’t let the outer look keep you from choosing this strange looking vegetable as one of your healthy vegetable choices. Because underneath this pale skin lies an abundance of fabulous fibre. A little more than half the fiber in parsnips is the soluble kind. This help block the intestine from absorbing fats and cholesterol from foods. At the same time, it dilutes bile acids in the intestine, which can prevent them from causing cancer. Parsnips also contain insoluble fiber, which speeds the rate at which stools move through the intestine. This is important because the less time bile acids are present in the intestine, the less likely they are to damage cells, causing changes that can lead to cancer. In a review of more than 200 scientific studies, researchers found that getting more dietary fibre can protect against a wide variety of cancers, including cancer of the stomach, pancreas, and colon. Fiber has shown likewise impressive abilities to relieve or prevent many other conditions as well. Fiber can also curb the blood sugar swings that occur with diabetes. Stroke Prevention According to some nutrition experts, a short of the vitamin B folate is our greatest nutritional deficiency, especially among young people, who often eat too much fast food that’s mostly lacking of vitamins. Parsnips are a good source of folate, as one cup contains 91 microgram or 23 percent of the DV. It has been proved that plenty of folate can prevent certain birth defects. Science also proved that it can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Folate decreases levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that may cause blockage of blood vessels. Researchers in the Framingham Heart Study found that men who ate the most folate had a 59 percent lower stroke rate than those who ate the least. Even those who ate just a little more obtained substantial benefits. The study found that men who ate just an extra three servings of fruit and vegetables a day lowered their risk of stroke by 22 percent. Of course, unless you have a passion for parsnips, it’s unlikely that you ever eat three or more servings a day. But by eating just a half cup will provide not only fiber and folate, but also 280 milligrams of potassium, or 8 percent of the DV for this mineral. This will go a long way toward keeping your arteries clean. The Acid Test Parsnips, along with carrots and celery, belong to a family that contain a number of natural compounds called phytonutrients, which have been shown in laboratory studies to block the spread of cancer cells. Chief among these are compounds called phenolic acids, who. attach themselves to potential cancer-causing agents in he body and creating a bigger molecule - so big that the body can’t absorb it. Research has shown that members of this family can also fight cancer by preventing tumor growth. The American Institute for Cancer Research gives parsnips’ nutritional profile (lots of fiber and health-promoting phytochemicals) high marks. So go ahead and enjoy this vegetable for all the fiber and folate it contains. In the Kitchen Parsnips cook up like carrots, only they take so much time They can be mashed, pureed, or served in chunks. Buy small or medium parsnips, they have a better flavor and texture. Parsnips measuring 8 inches in length are the tenderest. You can accentuate their sweetness by adding some ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or put them in a blender with some low fat sour cream or coconut cream. Keep them in the refrigerator and boil them before pealing of the skin to prevent losing most of the water-soluble nutrients.
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stroke prevention, fibre, cancer protection, folate, blood sugar swings, diabetes,
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