CARROTS and EYES
SLICE a carrot and it looks just like an eye, even the pattern of the iris. Its a clear that this vegetable is for vision. The orange colour is from a plant chemical called betacarotene, which reduces the risk of developing cataracts. This chemical present in carrots also protects against macular degeneration which is an age-related sight problem that affects one in four over the age of 65s.
WALNUT and BRAIN
THE gnarled folds of a walnut is exactly same as the appearance of a human brain. Walnuts are the only nuts which contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. An American study found that walnut extract broke down the protein-based plaques associated with Alzheimers disease.
TOMATO and HEART
A TOMATO is red in color and usually has four chambers, just like our heart. Tomatoes are also a great source of lycopene, a plant chemical that reduces the risk of heart disease and several cancers. An American research programme which tracks the health of 40,000 women found women with the highest blood levels of lycopene had 30% less heart disease than women who had very little lycopene. Lycopene helps counter the effect of unhealthy LDL cholesterol.
GRAPES and LUNGS
The structure of lungs with branches of ever-smaller airways is similar to a bunche of grapes. The airways that finish up with tiny bunches of tissue called alveoli allow oxygen to pass from the lungs to the blood stream. A diet high in fresh fruit, such as grapes, has reduced the risk of lung cancer and emphysema. Grape seeds also contain a chemical called proanthocyanidin, which appears to reduce the severity of asthma triggered by allergy.
CHEESE and BONES
Cheese is a rich source of calcium, a vital ingredient for strong bones. Cheese reduces the risk of osteoporosis later in life. It is strange that a piece of cheese even resembles the internal structure of bones. Together with another mineral called phosphate, it provides the main strength in bones. Getting enough calcium in the diet during childhood is crucial for strong bones. A study at Columbia University in New York showed teens who increased calcium intake from 800mg a day to 1200mg equal to an extra two slices of cheese and it boosted their bone density by six per cent.
GINGER and STOMACH
Root ginger often looks just like the stomach. One of its biggest benefits is aiding digestion. The Chinese have been using it for over 2,000 years to calm the stomach and cure nausea. It is also a popular remedy for motion sickness.
BANANA and SMILE)
Cheer up. Eat a banana and put a smile on your face. The popular fruit contains a protein called tryptophan. Once it has been digested, tryptophan then gets converted in a chemical neurotransmitter called serotonin, which is one of the most important mood-regulating chemicals in the brain and most anti-depressant drugs work by adjusting levels of serotonin production. Higher levels are associated with better moods.
MUSHROOM and EAR
Slice a mushroom in half and dont you think it resembles the shape of the human ear? Adding it to your cooking could actually improve your hearing. Mushrooms contain vitamin D. This particular vitamin is important for healthy bones, even the tiny ones in the ear that transmit sound to the brain.
BROCCOLI and CANCER CELLS
If you see closely, the tiny green tips on a broccoli head look like hundreds of cancer cells. Now scientists have shown that this veg can play a crucial role in preventing the disease. A team of researchers at the US National Cancer Institute found that serving of broccoli for a week was enough to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 45 per cent.
