November 19, 2007

Fruit And Vegetables For Asthmatics

Good old-fashioned fruits and vegetables can help solve some very modern problems. Besides tasting as good as they look, we are now learning that many of your standard vegetable-patch residents can help fight the war against cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, and yes—even asthma. The best thing about these colorful characters is that you don't have to go to a health food store or doctor to get them.

Fruits and vegetables contain not only asthma-friendly carotenoids and flavonoids, but are also packed with vital nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, and E, which play a critical role in preventing and treating asthma. With fruits and veggies, variety is the spice of life. I'm not going to bias you by recommending a particular veggie or fruit, as they all have their merits. What I suggest is that, every other day, you try a different vegetable or fruit and settle on those that appeal to your taste buds. One night, you can eat a dish of asparagus, while the next night you might have some yellow peppers with onions. Try not to exile your vegetables to a side dish, but rather include them in your nightly salad and entree. For instance, try halibut topped with a mixture of finely chopped red and yellow peppers with onions. The tension between the rather bland halibut and the zesty peppers and onions will leave you begging for more. The possibilities are endless and entire cookbooks are devoted to fruits and vegetables.

Remember, vegetables are best served steamed or raw, because these methods preserve the nutrients and enhance the flavor. Bottom line: Vegetables do not have to be boring or taste bad, so eat your vegetables!