Fall Foods that Taste Good & are Good for Us

 

Every fall, many of us treat ourselves to a variety of pumpkin dishes from spicy lattes to breads and pies. However this time of year many of our seasonal foods are not only tasty but healthy. The cranberry is one of these foods, which has medical experts giving it at a “super food” status. The Medical News Today website explains that cranberries are high in nutrients as well as antioxidants.

In fact “research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.” Other studies have found cranberry supplements to be beneficial in reducing a person’s body mass index (BMI) as well as improve HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels (good cholesterol).

There are also tasty substitutes to help flavor food rather than using salt or sugar. Fresh garlic is one of these. The National Cancer Institute lists garlic “as food that may help fight stomach and colon cancers in some folks.” Other studies have found it may have a small effect on lowering the body’s blood cholesterol.

Cinnamon is another seasoning that adds lots of favor to fall dishes. Beyond its good taste, several recent studies show it may help to lower blood glucose levels for people with Type 2 diabetes, which would be great news for the almost 85 million prediabetes in the country. Adding cinnamon to our diet is as easy as putting a dash in a cup of coffee, tea or cider or sprinkling it on apple slices.

Ginger is another food easy to incorporate into many different dishes and medical experts say it great for the digestive system and helps lessen nausea and motion sickness. Great in Asian dishes and can be added to salad dressings or used in a sauce over grilled fish. Also if you haven’t yet discovered the benefits of turmeric, now would be a good time to do so. Containing curcumin, it has been shown to offer “potential anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties in animal and laboratory studies.”

At the MorningStar at Golden Ridge senior living community, we pride ourselves on providing residents with a lifestyle of comfort and wellness including our 5-star food service. Meals are prepared largely from scratch and contain fresh foods and seasoning of which some are locally sourced. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our 38 Casitas designed for independent living, 65 private suites for assisted living, and 35 secure suites devoted to caring for seniors with memory impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve. We are in a warm, loving environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities. Please visit our website to learn more about trusted independent living & assisted living in the Peoria area.

Source:medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269142#:~:text=Many%20people%20consider%20cranberries%20to,function%2C%20and%20decreased%20blood%20pressure.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2018-10-22/6-healthy-fall-ingredients-and-how-to-use-them?src=usn_nl_yourhealth