Importance of well balance diet
All food contains all of the nutrients we need to be healthy, it is necessary to eat various foods in sufficient amounts. A good diet will include many different foods, and sufficient in quantity and quality to meet an individual’s need for food energy and other micro nutrients.
LEEKS
Typical serving size:
1 leek (314 oz or 89 g)
HOW THEY HARM
FlatulenceWHAT THEY HEAL
Cancer High cholesterol High blood pressure Leeks are closely related to onions—as the similarity in flavor shows—and are distant cousins of asparagusAll three are members of the lily family
Although the entire leek is edible, most people prefer to eat the white, fleshy base and tender inner leaves, and to discard the bitter dark green leaf tops
The flavor is sweeter and milder than that of an onion
Health Benefits
Prevents certain types of cancerKaempferol is an anticancer substance found in leeks
It may help to block the development of cancer-causing compounds
For example, one Chinese study found that men who ate at least 1 Tbsp of chopped onions and other related vegetables (garlic, scallions, chives, and leeks) a day had about half the risk of developing prostate cancer compared to men who ate less than ¼ Tbsp of these veggies daily
QUICK TIP:
Don’t toss the green part The green tops of leeks, which are usually discarded, can be saved and added to soups and stocksMay lower cholesterol
Like onions, leeks contain sulfur compounds that may help to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure
One leek also contains 30% of your RDA of vitamins A and C, both linked to heart health
Health Risk Flatulence
In addition to bad breath, leeks can cause gassiness in some people
Allergies
Buying Tip
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Storing Tip