December Flashcards
What are phytochemicals?
molecules in plants that help protect it against its environment, when consumed they have beneficial properties
What effect does MSG have on the body? (in crisps and chinese food)
Stimulates receptors that promote overeating
What are the negative effects of junk food?
- interrupts cellular signalling
- depletes nutrients in the body
- impairs cell function
- reduces life expectancy and performance
- addictive - leads to overeating and malnutrition
- causes inflammation
What conditions are linked to high consumption of junk food?
- atopy
- hormonal imbalance (diabetes, PMS)
- osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, RA
- cardiovascular disease
- migraines, parkinsons, alzheimers
- cancers
Why is grain-fed meat inflammatory?
It has a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio (20:1)
it is high in arachidonic acid
Why is grass-fed and wild meat less inflammatory?
it has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 2:1
It has higher conjugated linoleic acid
What does conjugated linoleic acid do?
regulates heart health, body weight and blood sugar levels
What are the benefits of organic meat?
higher vitamin, mineral and amino acid profile. Does not contain chemicals or xenoestrogens
What are the benefits of red meat?
complete proteins (contains all 9 essential amino acids), polyunsaturated fats, iron, zinc, B vitamins, phosphorus, selenium
What are the negatives of eating red meat?
- high cholesterol and saturated fats
- more energy to be digested
- pro-inflammatory
- high acidity (due to high sulphur content - turns to sulphuric acid)
What are the benefits of poultry?
- complete protein
- vitamin B1,2,3,5,6,12, E, zinc, iron, magnesium. less saturated fat than red meat
- easier to digest
What are the negatives of eating poultry?
- food poisoning risk
- often intensively farmed
What are the benefits of eggs?
- complete protein, rich sources of selenium, vit A, D, B6, B12, zinc, iron and copper
- good for brain health (choline)
- immunity (vit A, B12, selenium)
- pregnancy (folate and choline)
- Eye health (vit A, antioxidants)
- CV health (raise HDL, choline breaks down homocysteine)
What are the negatives of eating eggs?
- High in arachidonic acid so can be pro-inflammatory
- can be constipating
What are the benefits of eating fish?
- complete protein
- high omega 3
- vitamin D, B2, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, potassium
What are the oily fish?
SMASH - sardines, mackerel, anchovies, salmon, herring
What are the negatives of eating fish?
Mercury, polychorinated biphenyls and dioxins are present in larger, long-living fish
What are the negatives of farmed fish?
- contains dyes, chemicals (Abx, mercury, PCBs)
- lower omega 3 content
- fish are vaccinated and de-sexed
- more diseases in the fish
What are the negatives of canned fish?
- it reduces the vitamin C content of the fish
What are the benefits of eating shellfish/crustaceans?
- complete protein, omega-3, vitamin B12, zinc, iron, magnesium
What are the negatives of eating shellfish/crustaceans?
- high in cholesterol
- food poisoning is common
- often intensively farmed
- accumulate mercury
What are the benefits of organic plants?
- they contain a higher amount of phytonutrients (protecting themselves)
Why are plants good for the microbiome?
- they are prebiotic and probiotic
- they contain lots of fibre
- bacterial digestion of plants produces SCFA which support the intestinal barrier
What is beta-carotene?
an orange pigment, abundant in plants and fruits that functions as an anti-oxidant and a precursor to vitamin A
What are flavinoids?
A diverse group of phytonutrients that are found in almost all fruits and vegetables, they are responsible for the colours
What is lutein?
A types of carotenoid antioxidant that is important in eye and skin health. abundant in leady greens
What is quercetin?
A plant pigment (flavinoid), found in red fruits and vegetables. Anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties
What is indole-3-carbinol?
I3C - found in cruciferous veg, helps support healthy oestrogen metabolism
What are glucosinolates?
Sulphur-containing compounds found in cruciferous vegetables
What is lycopene?
A pigment which gives some vegetables and fruit their red colour. It is in tomatoes and has some anti-cancer properties
What are anthocyanins?
A type of flavonoid that gives things purple, red and blue colours, with anti-oxidant properties
What is mucilage?
A thick polysaccharide that is extracted from a plant
What are benefits of eating root veg?
High levels of antioxidants, vits A, B< C and iron - most nutrients in the skin
What are the benefits of beetroot?
Can improve blood circulation and exercise performance by increasing nitric oxide levels (- vasodilation), which can reduce BP
What nutrients are found in potatoes?
vitamin B2, B3, B5, B6, folate, C, iron, magnesium, potassium, beta carotene, lutein, quercetin
What are the benefits of eating potatoes?
- B6 vits and minerals
- high fibre
- promotes vasodilation
What nutrients are in sweet potatoes?
vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5. B6, C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene (higher than white potatoes)
What are the benefits of sweet potatoes?
- blood-sugar regulation (high fibre)
- vision
- skin integrity, immunity (vit A)
- brain health (antioxidants)
What are the benefits of eating carrots?
vision, reproductive health, immune, skin and mucus barriers (vit A), Cv health (antioxidants)
What are the benefits of parsnips?
high fibre (digestive health), eye, bone, tissue health (manganese), heart (magnesium, potassium)
What is manganese good for?
Manganese - creaky knees
bone and tissue health
What vegetables are cruciferous (brassicas)?
kale, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, rocket, bok choy, radish, turnips, mustard greens
What are the benefits of cruciferous veg?
- rich in vitamin Bs, C, E, calcou, iron, potassium, fibre, flavinoids, I3C, sulphur
- glucosinolates
(anti-inflammatory, support liver detoxification, DNA repair, anti-viral and bacterial)
Why do you have to eat vitamin C regularly?
it is water soluble so is excreted regularly
What vitamin is used to make collagen?
C
Why is cabbage good for the gut barrier?
high in L-glutamine - deceases intestinal permeability
How much heating kills off the glucosinolates in cruciferous veg?
heat > 140 degrees for more than a few mins
Should you stop eating brassicas with hypothyroidism?
- no unless you are deficient in iodine
- Just don’t eat lots of raw brassica veg
Why are dark leafy greens good?
- highest percentage of minerals per calorie
- high in chlorophyll (magnesium)
- high in carotenoids and calcium
What are the benefits of kale?
high in iron (anaemia), bone health (calcium), eye and skin (vit A and zinc), CV health (high antioxidants, regulates LDLs), high proteins, B vits
What are the benefits of tomatoes?
- lycopene (decreases cell damage) - higher in cooked or pureed tomatoes
- CV health - antioxidants and lycopene lowers cholesterol
- anti-inflammatory (modulates COX expression)
- anti-cancer (antioxidants)
What are the benefits of allium vegetables?
Abundant in vitamins and minerals
sulphur compounds (antimicrobial and antiviral)
support microbiome (prebiotics)
High in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoids
Why are leeks good for people with high cholesterol?
The high flavonoid content lowers LDL through inhibiting HMG-CoA enzyme
What are the benefits of celery?
CV health - butlyphthalide lowers cholesterol and BP
reduces joint inflammation (vit C and flavonoids)
skin health (vit A and C)
digestion (increases stomach acid, and high fibre)
What is pectin - and what is it good for?
It is a soluble fibre that binds to fatty substances in the GI tract (inc cholesterol and toxins) and removes them
Why are citrus fruits good for you?
- Antioxidants
- high vits and minerals
- calcium D glutarate (promotes phase 2 reactions) liver detoxification
What are the dirty dozen (high pesticides)?
strawberries, cucumber, celery, pepper, tomatoes, spinach, apple, grapes, chilli, peach, nectarines, potato, kale, courgette
What are the clean fifteen (low pesticides)?
sweet potatoes, papaya, pineapple, peas, melon, sweetcorn, aubergine, grapefruit, kiwi, onions, mushrooms asparagus, avocado, cabbage, mango
What are pulses?
The edible, dry seeds of legumes
What part of legumes causes GI discomfort?
lectins - can add fennel seeds which reduces effect
What are the benefits of legumes?
- high fibre
- immune (zinc, selenium)
- blood (iron)
- CV health (fibre, magnesium, b vits)
- nervous system (b vits and magnesium)
What are the benefits of nuts?
- good source of proteins, healthy fats, vits and minerals
- anti-coagulant (vit E)
- vasodilation - Arginine
- blood sugar regulation
How can you improve the digestibility of nuts?
soak, grind or sprout them
Which nuts can be used to improve thyroid function?
Brazil nuts - 3 a day helps with conversion of T3-T4 (selenium)
Which nut is the best for brain health?
Walnuts - phospholipids and omega-3s that help with memory
How do you improve the fibre content of seeds?
crush them or soak them
Which seeds are highest in omega-3s?
Chia seeds
Which seeds are anti-paracytic?
pumpkin seeds
What seeds should you eat at each part of the menstrual cycle?
first half: 1tbsp flaxseeds and 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
second half: 1 tbsp sesame and 1 tbsp sunflower
Which seeds contain phytoestrogens?
Flaxseeds
When should culinary herbs be used cautiously?
In pregnancy, breastfeeding, acid reflux and stomach ulcers
what can aniseed be used for?
weak digestion, gas, bloating, IBS, cough, asthma
What can basil be used for?
weak digestion, gas, bloating IBS, cough, colds, anxiety, low mood, fatigue
What can black pepper be used for?
weak digestion, poor circulation, rhinitis, productive cough, viruses
What can cardamom be used for?
weak digestion, indigestion, nausea, bloating, IBS, low mood, coughs, gum disease
What can chilli (capsicum) be used for?
poor circulation, fatigue, IDH