When it comes to preserving your health, nothing beats Mother Nature and her impressive arsenal of superfoods and functional foods. All of these have been noted as having healing properties that surpass that of synthetic, inorganic medication.

Not only that, but some eagle-eyed observers have even noted that some superfoods and functional foods bear more than just a fleeting resemblance to the body parts that they help maintain, thus putting an entirely new spin on that popular age-old quote, “you are what you eat.”

In any case, here are some examples of foods that resemble some very familiar body parts, as well as their benefits.

Grapes

Red and purple grapes (Vitis vinifera) are known to be quite rich in anthocyanins. These are a group of plant pigments that have been proven to help maintain optimal lung function.

It’s surprising to note then that the fruits have an undeniable resemblance to the body’s alveoli which allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to move between the lungs and the bloodstream.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas) rank very low in the glycemic index, which means that they are of great help to diabetics. They’re also an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin A. Of these, vitamin A, also known as beta-carotene, is known to have a positive effect on the health of the pancreas, an important body part which the sweet potato resembles.

Olives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olives (Olea europaea) not only resemble human ovaries, but they also help protect them. Both olives and extra virgin olive oil contain high amounts of antioxidants which recent studies have linked to a reduction of risk of ovarian cancer in women.

Citrus Fruits

Grapefruits, as well as other citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, have a curious resemblance to the female breasts. As it turns out, they are also integral in the fight against breast cancer.

Studies show that citrus fruits are able to effectively inhibit the growth and proliferation of human breast cancer cells thanks to their rich stores of antioxidants.

Red Wine

Red wine, when consumed in moderation, is actually a very healthy drink. This is because red wine — which admittedly resembles blood — contains high amounts of resveratrol, an incredibly potent antioxidant that can help reduce blood pressure and increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in the body.

Ginseng Roots

Ginseng roots (Panax ginseng), according to adherents of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The roots — which have a passing resemblance to the body’s veins — are also said to help reduce stress and promote relaxation, as well as other medical conditions.

Walnuts

Walnuts (Juglans regia) — which kind of resemble a human brain when you think about it — have a significantly high concentration of DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid that has been shown to help protect brain health in newborns, as well as improve cognitive performance in adults and even prevent age-related cognitive decline.

Avocados

Rich in healthy fats, avocados (Persea americana) are known to be good for the female reproductive system, specifically, the uterus an organ that they greatly resemble.

This is because avocados contain high amounts of the nutrients needed for optimal reproductive health such as folate, potassium and carotenoids, as well as other key compounds for general health such as fiber, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and antioxidants.

When it comes to health problems, chances are, Mother Nature already has solutions that — no pun intended — are ripe for the picking. This means that instead of depending solely on the medicines produced by pharmaceutical companies, you can add more tasty and healthy whole foods into your diet – the way nature intended it to be.

As with all things, however, keep in mind that superfoods and functional foods, as potent and as powerful as they are, aren’t magical elixirs or potions that can take away all of our health problems in the blink of an eye. We also need to engage in a healthy lifestyle if we are to reap all of their health-supporting benefits.

Sources:

GreenMedInfo.com

WebMD.com

EverydayHealth .com

LiverAndPancreasSurgeon.com

ResearchGate.net

EJBC.kr

MedicalNewsToday.com

Nutrition.org

MDPI.com