It's the time of year when families come together to celebrate their love, eat copious amounts of food, and reflect on what they're grateful for. It's also a great time to ensure that you are eating foods that are good for your body! It's no secret that Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays here at Source & Self. Here are five ingredients that might make your meal even more beneficial than you thought:
Pumpkin (Pie)
High in fiber: One cup of pumpkin contains about four grams of fiber. That's nearly as much as an apple! High in vitamin A: Pumpkins are a good source of vitamin A, which helps your body maintain healthy vision and skin. It also plays an important role in bone formation and cell growth. High in vitamin C: Vitamin C helps with wound healing, boosts immunity, and promotes healthy skin when consumed regularly.
Cranberries (Sauce)
Cranberries are a great source of antioxidants and vitamin C. In fact, they're one of the few fruits that contain more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable. Cranberries are also known to help with digestion and prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). They may even lower cholesterol!
Cranberries are commonly used in desserts like pies, cakes, muffins, and bread. Plus, they add a tart flavor that pairs well with poultry dishes like turkey or chicken. You can also use them in sauces for meats during cooking to create unique flavors that go well with your main dish.
Sweet potato
Sweet potato is a good source of vitamins A and C, and contains fiber and potassium. It also has manganese which helps to strengthen your bones and teeth, prevents rheumatoid arthritis, protects against certain cancers (including lung cancer), boosts hair growth, aids in weight loss by controlling appetite, and boosts energy levels.
Vitamin A helps prevent night blindness and dry eyes, while vitamin C reduces inflammation; both are essential for eye health.
Corn
Corn is a great source of fiber, vitamin C, B6, and folate. It’s also rich in magnesium, phosphorus and thiamin. It can help lower your cholesterol level and it promotes regularity. Corn can be used to reduce inflammation as well as boost your immune system when eaten regularly.
- Vitamin C helps prevent cancer as well as aids in wound healing
- Vitamin B6 helps fight stress-related depression by regulating brain chemicals like serotonin that affect mood
- Folate is involved in making red blood cells for transporting oxygen throughout our bodies; it's also essential for proper nerve cell function
Turkey (White meat)
Turkey is a great source of protein, zinc, selenium, vitamin B6 and niacin. A 3-ounce serving of white meat turkey provides around 27 grams of protein. It also contains approximately 1 milligram of zinc (about 10% DV), which helps protect against free radical damage that can lead to cancer and other diseases. Selenium is an antioxidant mineral that may help lower cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk. Turkey has 0.8 milligrams per 3-ounce serving (about 19% DV) which is the recommended daily intake for adults aged 19-50, according to the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board (FNB). Vitamin B6 plays a role in energy metabolism by helping convert carbohydrates into glucose so cells can use them as energy sources.
Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are cruciferous vegetables, which means that they are related to broccoli and kale. They are a good source of vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin K. They also contain antioxidants that help fight cancer—, particularly colon cancer. Brussels sprouts contain folate (also known as folic acid), which helps reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure.
Carrots
Carrots are a good source of vitamin A and vitamin K. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C, beta carotene, manganese and dietary fiber. Vitamin A is an important nutrient that helps your body maintain healthy eyesight and skin. Vitamin K aids in blood clotting, while beta-carotene has an antioxidant activity, which may help prevent cancer or heart disease.
Carrots contain minerals like potassium that help regulate fluid balance in the body as well as aid in nerve function; they also provide high levels of vitamin C, which is essential for immune system support as well as collagen formation (read: strong bones). Plus, carrots have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels thanks to their natural ability to reduce inflammation within our bodies!
Just cut down on the sugar and butter.
The least beneficial ingredients for your health on Thanksgiving are the ones you should cut down on. These include sugar and butter because they're bad for you. If you must have these things, they shouldn't be served in huge quantities like at Thanksgiving dinner—just a few small slices of pie or a modest amount of mashed potatoes would suffice!
Other things that can be harmful to your health include alcohol and large quantities of red meat (like beef). However, small amounts of these items won't hurt you too much either. So enjoy them occasionally!
The best ingredients are good for your body: vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower; fruits like apples and oranges; nuts like walnuts; fish such as salmon.
It's all about balance. Just cut down on some of the extra stuff and you'll be good to go!
