Many people often complain that there are too few food choices available, and that they can never find delicious and novel things to eat. But is this really the case? We always pursue other hard-to-get delicacies because of the limitations of our own lives, while ignoring the beneficial things that are close to us. Just like the common Chinese cabbage and cucumber seeds we see every day, if we can正视 (face up to) these as ordinary foods, it's not difficult to eat healthily.
The following foods are very nutritious, but many people don't like them:
1. Cucumber Seeds
Cucumber seeds contain a large amount of magnesium. Research has found that people with high magnesium levels in their blood have a 40% lower chance of dying early.
2. Beets
This red vegetable contains a large amount of folic acid and betaine. These two chemicals work together to lower homocysteine levels, an inflammatory substance that can damage arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
Moreover, the natural pigment in beets—betanin—has been proven in experiments to prevent cancer.
3. Pomegranate
Pomegranates contain a high concentration of lycopene, which is more effective than tomatoes and watermelon at preventing prostate cancer. Furthermore, a cup of pomegranate contains 688 milligrams of potassium, 63% more than a banana. Pomegranates are also high in fiber, with 9 grams per cup.
4. Lettuce
Half a cup of cooked lettuce contains a large amount of lutein and zeaxanthin, with 10 milligrams per cup. These chemicals, called carotenoids, can prevent retinal aging because they absorb light that damages the eyes.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon helps control blood sugar and reduces the risk of heart disease. In fact, research has found that type 2 diabetics who consume 1 gram of cinnamon daily for 6 weeks experience significant reductions in blood sugar, blood lipids, and bad cholesterol.