{"id":396082,"date":"2023-12-25T09:12:23","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T14:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/christmas-dinner-items-that-bring-the-gift-of-health-drugs-com-mednews\/"},"modified":"2023-12-25T16:34:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-25T21:34:51","slug":"christmas-dinner-items-that-bring-the-gift-of-health-drugs-com-mednews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/christmas-dinner-items-that-bring-the-gift-of-health-drugs-com-mednews\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Dinner Items That Bring the Gift of Health – Drugs.com MedNews","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm<\/a>. Last updated on Dec 25, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter<\/p>\n

MONDAY, Dec. 25, 2023 — Christmas dinners aren\u2019t usually known for healthy offerings, and instead bring to mind thoughts of Uncle Fred loosening his belt after a third round of helpings.<\/p>\n

But there are traditional offerings that can be healthy, if prepared in the proper way, researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom report.<\/p>\n

For example, Brussels sprouts contain glucosinolates, which can aid the body in fighting chronic conditions like diabetes and cancer.<\/p>\n

However, maximum benefit from Brussels sprouts is derived when the veggies are steamed, rather than boiled or roasted, said Kirsten Brandt<\/a>, a senior lecturer in food and human nutrition at Newcastle University.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you boil the Brussels sprouts, then you lose a lot of the important compounds into the water,\u201d Brandt said in a university news release. \u201cIf you roast them, they are being broken down during the cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSteaming is the one that gives most of these tasty and healthy compounds in the final product,\u201d Brandt continued.<\/p>\n

A side of carrots also can help reduce a person\u2019s risk of cancer.<\/p>\n

Five servings of carrots each week has been linked to a 20% reduction in cancer risk, according to a new evidence review from Brandt’s team that was published Dec. 17 in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Even serving still lowers cancer risk by 4%, researchers said.<\/p>\n

Carrots contain a wide array of different compounds associated with health benefits, most prominently beta-carotene — the plant chemical that gives carrots their orange color.<\/p>\n

However, the new review — which included data from nearly 200 studies involving 4.7 million participants — concluded that the whole carrot provides an anti-cancer effect, not just carotenes on their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, beta-carotene did not show much beneficial effect on cancer in controlled experiments,\u201d said lead researcher Charles Ojobor<\/a>, a doctoral student at Newcastle University\u2019s Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Center. \u201cAs a result, we studied carrots due to their content of a different type of phytochemicals, polyacetylenes, which are colorless but have strong effects on cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Potatoes also appear on many Christmas dinner tables — and the Newcastle researchers say there\u2019s one variety that\u2019s the best for roasting.<\/p>\n

Researchers evaluated more than 250 different varieties of potatoes, and concluded that red \u201crooster\u201d potatoes are the tops.<\/p>\n

Red potatoes are rich in fiber and ideal for popping in an air fryer, said Sophia Long<\/a>, a doctoral student with Newcastle University\u2019s Department of Science, Agriculture and Engineering.<\/p>\n

\u201cRooster potatoes are perfect for making the best roast potato,\u201d Long said. \u201cThey have a nice red skin and, when peeled, they reveal a lovely golden color underneath \u2013 perfect for your roasties on Christmas day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sources<\/h2>\n