Proanthocyanidin

Cashew nuts or kaju as we know them in India are widely loved and used in almost every course of food, from starters and snacks to the main course to dessert. Apart from being a delectable food, it also has numerous health benefits.

Few of them are:
When compared to other nuts, they have low-fat content which is in the form of oleic acid, and oleic acid is good for the heart.

1. Cashews also happen to be free of cholesterol and have anti-oxidants which help in keeping your heart healthy. 
2. Magnesium present in the cashews helps them to prevent the rise in blood pressure.
3. One major benefit of cashew nuts is that they help fight cancer. They have high copper content and also have flavonoids called proanthocyanidins which help fight cancer cells in colon cancer.
4. The copper in cashews helps in maintaining the color of the hair.
5. Cashews have magnesium and calcium, both of which are important for bone health.
6. Eating cashews with help maintain the level of magnesium in bones and prevent calcium from penetrating nerve cells, thus ensuring healthy nerves.
7. The minerals present in cashews makes it act as an antioxidant
8. They help in growth, digestion, and development of the body.
9. Despite being considered as fattening, cashews have good cholesterol, and eating them can also reduce your risk of gallstone formation

Cranberries are the most useful fruit for you, if you suffer from repeated UTIs, stomach ulcers and GI distress, have a problem with your heart or liver, have been diagnosed with cancer, have gum disease or bad skin. The list can go on and on to prove cranberries are indeed nature’s wonder fruits.

Let’s see what these berries contain. A cup of cranberries contains the following:

• Calories - 46
• Manganese - 18 %
• Vitamin C - 18 %
• Vitamin E
• Fibre
• Copper
• Vitamin K
• Glycemic index – Low

Cranberries have thousands of benefits for our health. It’s not just we who are saying this, but it is a scientific fact.

What makes cranberries so awesome?

1. Fights UTI: Cranberries are strongly acidic and they contain a chemical compound that gives them their bacteria fighting punch. This compound is called proanthocyanidins (PACs). It helps prevent UTIs as the special structure of PACs acts as a barrier to bacteria, which latch on the walls of your urinary bladder, causing UTIs.
2. Prevents stomach cancer: The PAC prevents bacteria, which cause stomach cancer called helicobacter pylori to latch on to the walls of your stomach and large intestine.
3. Protects your heart: Cranberries contain Anthocyanin. This phytonutrient gives cranberries their amazing red colour and is linked to their unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which protect your cardio-vascular system and liver. To reap the complete benefits of all five cranberry phytonutrients, it’s best to consume the whole berry rather than have it in the form of an extract or juice.
4. Contains anti-cancer properties: Cranberries possess solid cancer-preventive benefits. They can prevent cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and prostate. None of the cancer-related benefits of cranberries should be surprising, since cranberry is loaded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients like anthocyanins which provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Antioxidants are essential for improving health by helping combat the free radicals that can damage cellular structures as well as DNA, thereby preventing cancers.
5. Oral health: Apart from boosting immunity, making our skin lush and youthful, cranberries can also prevent periodontal disease.
6. Good for diabetic: Since, cranberries are a low GI fruit, diabetics can have them too and benefit from their health benefits.
7. Good for your heart: The fruit has also been proven to lower LDL and raise HDL or good cholesterol, as well as help in recovery from stroke.
8. Promotes weight loss: The fruit is loaded with fibre, which keeps you full for a longer time and aids in weight loss. Because of high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory content, cranberries help improve memory.

This food is no less than a superfood, sent straight from heaven for our well-being. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Dietitian/Nutritionist.

Health benefits of red kidney beans:
With their deep red color, cooked red kidney beans can liven up a wide range of meals including salads, soups and stews. But did you know that these little legumes can do much more than just that? packed with protein, soluble (and insoluble) fiber, folate (vitamin b9), magnesium, potassium and a number of other health promoting nutrients, red kidney beans (haricots rouges, red beans, in french) are a true superfood. 

1. Protection against heart disease

In the renowned seven countries study, researchers investigated associations between the intake of certain food groups and mortality from coronary heart disease over a 25-year period. The researchers concluded that a higher legume consumption could reduce the risk of heart attack by more than 80%.

The findings of the seven countries study are not surprising considering that legumes such as red kidney beans are cram full of folate (also known as vitamin b9) and fiber, both of which promote cardiovascular health. Just one cup (177 grams) of cooked red kidney beans provides a third of the recommended daily intake for folate! folate deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, coronary complications, and stroke. Vitamin b9 also helps eliminate homocysteine, a toxic substance that can lead to severe artery damage.

The soluble fiber in red kidney beans contributes to their heart health benefits by forming a gel-like substance in the digestive tract. This gel then binds with bile, which contains cholesterol, and carries it out of the body.

2. Extraordinary antioxidant and anti-aging prowess

The health benefits of eating red kidney beans are not only linked to their fiber and folate content; red kidney beans are also supercharged with antioxidants. Antioxidants are believed to have strong anti-aging properties and to promote longevity by limiting damage caused by free radicals. This helps protect the skin and the rest of the body from long-term health problems caused by environmental factors and unhealthy foods.

3. Flavonoids represent one of the most important classes of antioxidants, and red kidney beans are exceptionally rich in flavonoids, particularly in proanthocyanidins (also known as condensed tannins). According to an analysis conducted by usda researcher ronald prior, red kidney beans contain even more proanthocyanidins than blueberries, cranberries, and small red beans.

Tip: check out our online guide to anti-wrinkle foods and nutrition for diet tips, food recommendations and recipes designed for people who want to prevent wrinkles and maintain a youthful skin by eating and avoiding specific foods.

4. Stabilizing effect on blood sugar levels and weight loss benefits

If the health benefits of red kidney beans described above are not enough to convince you to add these little powerhouse legumes to your diet, consider this: the fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates in red kidney beans helps stabilize blood sugar levels, making red kidney beans a very good food for people with insulin resistance, hypoglycemia or diabetes. The blood sugar stabilizing effects of kidney beans can also assist obese and overweight people in their battle against excess body fat. When the blood sugar levels are stable, less insulin is released by the pancreas. One of the tasks of insulin is to promote fat storage in the body, so keeping insulin levels low can help you achieve healthy weight loss.

Tip: if you are interested in learning more about healthy weight loss, visit our pages dedicated to weight loss nutrition.

5. A healthy source of protein

Protein is vital for many bodily processes, including building and repairing tissue. Your hair and nails are mostly made up of protein, and protein is an important building block of muscles and skin. Protein is made of strands of amino acids, and amino acids are categorized as non-essential (meaning they can be manufactured by the human body) and essential (meaning they must be obtained from food). A complete protein is a protein that contains all of the essential amino acids in correct proportions for supporting biological functions in the human body.

 Generally, proteins derived from animal foods (meats, poultry, seafood, dairy) are complete. However, also beans such as red kidney beans can provide a complete protein — when combined with rice or grains. Red kidney beans are low in the amino acid lysine, while rice is rich in this essential amino acid. The art of combining foods with incomplete proteins (such as beans and rice) to create a complete protein is known as protein combining or protein complementing. Eating a meal composed of red kidney beans and rice (or grains) will not only provide you with a complete protein, it will also provide you with a protein-rich meal.

Grapes are one of the most widely available fruits across the world, but many people ignore eating the seeds of this healthy fruit. The seeds of grapes are rich in heavy anti-oxidants along with natural plant compounds known as oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes or OPCs. Hence there are numerous health benefits of grape seeds, some of which include the following.
Improves the skin health:

Grape seeds are very important source of antioxidants which enable you to fight against different types of skin conditions such as skin inflammation, premature fine lines, and wrinkles, acne, and psoriasis among others.

1. Helps in fighting against certain cancer: It was found that grape seed extracts can offer protection from the UV induced photocarcinogenesis. This is achieved by decreasing the size, multiplicity and incidence of the tumor as well as seizing the changing of UVB induced papillomas to the harmful malignant carcinomas. Also, the proanthocyanidins present in the grape seed is proved in reducing azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis by starting the process of apoptosis.
2. Grape seeds are rich in anti-oxidants: The grape seeds comprise of the flavonoids which include catechin epicatechin, gallic acid, epicatechin 3-0-gallate and the oligomeric proanthocyanidins. It is also found that the antioxidant properties present in this proanthocyanidins is far intense than that of Vitamin C and Vitamin E. The strong antioxidant properties of the grape seed have also caused the supplement manufacturers to process the grape seeds into health supplementing capsules and pills. Therefore, you should consider consuming the grape seeds for protecting the body from poor cardiovascular health, vision problems, asthma and skin diseases.
3. Aids in weight loss: Did you know that grape seeds offer an effective result in reduction of fat from the body? These seeds can be used for reducing as well as treating the absorption of dietary fat and its accumulation in different parts of the body.
4. Helps in the treatment of depression: A group of international scientists from the United States of America and China has shown the effectiveness of proanthocyanidins in the improvement of mental health in 2010. Studies on animal have proved that this particular element can exert anti-depressing effects. Hence, you should take grape seeds as a viable means of boosting your mental health.
5. Reduces cardiovascular diseases conditions: The effects of grape seeds in improving the cardiovascular health of human beings are immensely promising. It can effectively reduce conditions like cardiac arrest, tachycardia and also protect against cardiotoxicity which can happen due to contamination of drugs. Consuming grape seeds regularly can help in reducing the LDL cholesterol levels as well as biomarkers.

Do you require any more reasons to consume the wonderful seeds? 

If you wish to discuss any specific problem, you can consult a dietitian-nutritionist.

As the new year begins, the one fruit which is available in abundance are grapes. The black/purple and the green variety, seeded and seedless, are all over the place. Given the weather slowly changing from winter, they seem like the best thing to beat the summer heat. And yes, they are. Not just for overall health, they are also great for the skin and hair. Read on to know more.

Benefits of grapes for skin:

• When the sunscreen lotion does not help much and sunburn happens, the one of the best home remedies is to apply mashed grapes for about 30 minutes. The grapes are rich in antioxidants (proanthocyanidins and resveratrol). They reduce the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation and also reduces cell damage caused by excessive skin exposure.
• Rubbing the grape pulp on the face for about 20 minutes can help reverse and control antiaging better than any chemical treatment. It reduces the effect of free radicals which lead to fine wrinkles and dark spots.
• Grapes are also rich in vitamins c and e which helps in making the skin supple and improves skin tone and reduces scars.
   

Benefits for hair:

• If hair loss scares you, apply a paste of seeded grapes. The linoleic acid and grape seed oil can add strength and prevent hair fall.
• Grapes can also be mixed with fenugreek and chickpeas for use on hair to improve life and lustre of the hair and add volume.
• The vitamin e and antioxidants also help improve scalp blood circulation, fight dandruff, reduce itchiness, and improved hair health.
  
   

Benefits on overall health:

• Relieves headache: The various antioxidants in the grapes help in relieving the headache almost instantaneously. Eat them up or drink if you have a headache, even migraines.
• Improves digestion: They improve digestion and reduce digestive problems, thereby curing indigestion. They also are shown to help in controlling colon cancer.
• Good in diabetes: Diabetic patients need not be worried about the sweet grapes. The pterostilbene in them helps lower sugar levels, and in the long run, it can also prevent the onset of diabetes.
• Cholesterol control: The polyphenols help in controlling heart disease by reducing plaque formation.
• Eye health: The reduced oxidation process and controlled inflammatory process helps in improving eye health, especially in the retina, which is full of proteins.
• Potassium in plenty: 100 g of grapes contains about 200 mg of potassium, which is a treasure. It improves blood pressure (by countering sodium), and also controls cholesterol and reduces salt intake.
• Brain health: The antioxidants like revasterol help in improving blood flow and helps in controlling alzheimer’s and improving memory. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a herbal expert.