Photo Credit: Ruby Fenn
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With so many sweet treats and sugary snacks available these days, it can be easy to binge on calorie-laden foods that are not very good for the body. This can lead to ailments such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, so it’s important to think carefully about what you’re consuming on a daily basis. In fact, eating well can have many unusual health benefits, so let’s take a look at five of these.
- Omega 3 can prevent hearing loss
Believe it or not, the high levels of omega 3 fats found in oily fish such as trout, tuna, salmon and sardines can help prevent hearing loss. Studies have shown that adults who consumed two portions of fish a week reduced their risk of hearing loss by 42 per cent compared to people who don’t eat seafood. This is because omega 3 is believed to strengthen the muscles in our ear’s sensory system, so if you want to lower your chance of needing hearing aids from HH or other devices, it’s well-worth incorporating fish into your diet.
- Antioxidants can prevent hearing loss
Along the same lines as omega 3, it’s also thought antioxidants can also prevent hearing loss by up to 20 per cent. This is because antioxidants commonly found in spinach, broccoli, beans, eggs, liver and nuts help reduce the number of free radicals in the body which can potentially damage the delicate nerve tissue of the inner ear. Similarly, folic acid is thought to prevent hearing loss and is essential for the health of your inner ear, so be sure to eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables and to take folic acid supplements during pregnancy to help prevent neural tube defects in the foetus.
- Leafy greens and veg can improve your eye health
Being able to see the world around you is a wonderful thing that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Our eyes are extremely delicate and sophisticated organs that need to be taken care of, so if you’re looking to improve your eye health, make sure you consume plenty of leafy greens such as spinach and kale as these can help stem the development of macular degeneration and cataracts. In fact, there are many tasty foods that can help improve or maintain your eye sight including tomatoes which help prevent light-induced damage to the retina and other areas of the eye.
- Superfoods will help your skin stay young and healthy
If your skin is looking a little tired, old or wrinkled, you might be tempted to book a facelift or a course of microdermabrasion – but often there’s no need. Eating superfoods such as blueberries and other nutrient-rich fruits like strawberries not only remove toxins from the body but they can boost your energy levels too. Tomatoes even contain an anti-aging antioxidant called lycopene which is more easily absorbed into the body when it’s cooked or processed, so be sure to stock up on tinned tomato sauce and tomato juice.
- Dark chocolate for healthy skin and hair
Need a chocolate fix? Then the dark variety is your best bet. This contains a wealth of antioxidants that will help your skin stay hydrated and protect it from sun damage. Before you stock up on this treat, however, bear in mind that the chocolate you buy should be at least 60 per cent cacao as anything less will probably be too sugary to have the optimum health benefits.
You are what you eat and this list goes to show that you can improve your looks and health dramatically by choosing the right food.