We all know that eating healthy foods helps you achieve a strong body, right? Well, some foods take it one step further and actually look like the body part they help keep healthy. Did you know a kidney bean actually helps your kidneys – and looks like a kidney too?! It turns out there is a big category of foods where this theme is present, and it’s too good not to share!
2
It’s unbelievable how similar a sweet potato looks to your pancreas. The kicker is that it actually does help the pancreas in a variety of ways. The pancreas isn’t the only body part that benefits from sweet potato, but it definitely is a major one.
Among other jobs, the gland organ called the pancreas helps break down the food from your stomach and produces the hormone called insulin to help regulate your body’s glucose and sugar levels. This is where the sweet potato comes in. Other than being a great source of vitamins A and C, sweet potatoes also help diabetics with the balance of their glycemic index, which is directly connected to the functioning of the pancreas.
3
Now you can officially say that your glass of red wine at supper is a healthy choice – right? When it comes to its relationship with your blood, absolutely! Not only does wine and blood look very similar, but they also have a close relationship.
Red wine has blood thinning properties which actually work to help prevent blood clots. Long-term, wine can have a hand in preventing heart attacks and strokes as a result. Remember, everything in moderation!
4
There is a myth that many parents tell their children. They say that carrots can help you see in the dark but leave out the fact that it’s definitely not an instantaneous result if it is even accurate to start with.
In reality, there is something in carrots called beta-carotene which our bodies turn into vitamin A. It assists with helping our eyes stay strong as we age, and can help prevent vision loss in senior citizens.
5
If there was a popular crowd of superfoods, the avocado would definitely be in that group! As if we even needed more reason to like the fruit, here’s just one more reason.
Avocados are a great source of folic acid. Folate is known to assist in reducing your chances of getting cervical dysplasia, which is a precancerous disease that can be contracted in the uterus.
6
Walnuts may be served on some desserts, but the reality is, they’re extremely good for you! You can serve them with ice cream, in a salad or with a bowl of cereal for breakfast.
Walnuts are jam packed with our favorite omega-3 fatty acids. While a walnut looks like a brain, it actually helps improve your brain function with these healthy fats.
7
Celery has been known as one of those veggies that is easy to snack on but offers next to nothing for your body. Serving it up with hummus or veggie dips are common ways we enjoy celery, but very little of it has to do with the celery, it’s more about the dip!
It turns out that celery actually does have a lot to offer your body! Have you ever noticed that celery looks a lot like your bones? Well, celery actually has something in common with your bones other than just the appearance – they contain 23% sodium, just like your bones! Celery is a great source of silicon which helps with the structure of your bones to keep them strong and healthy.
8
Bananas are a great snack when you and your family is on the run, and it will also make everyone a little more cheerful with their bellies full. But that’s not the only reason bananas make people smile!
Bananas have an extra special protein called tryptophan which is actually converted into serotonin once it is digested in the body. Serotonin is that well loved happy chemical that can boost your mood and make you feel happier. Not only do bananas look like a smile, but they make you smile too!
9
Grapes are a fantastic snack if you’re both hungry and thirsty because of how juicy they are! Grapes also go well on charcuterie boards and make a good snack for car rides with hungry kiddies.
If you struggle with allergy-triggered asthma, grapes and their seeds are your new best friend! The seeds contain a chemical called proanthocyanidin which helps reduce your asthma. Grapes also happen to look like the alveoli in your lungs!
10
Cutting up onions can be such a pain, but their nutritional benefits make them worth it! The best part is, they always add a perfect touch of added flavor to just about every savory dish you can concoct.
Onions look a lot like the cells in your body, and for good reason! Onions can clear any waste related materials from your cells, and those tears that drive you insane? They are actually cleaning out your eyes! Consider onions a natural cleaning product for your body.
11
Broccoli is often compared to looking like a little forest of tiny trees. Another comparison for broccoli is that it looks a lot like cancer cells! It turns out, those two things are actually closely connected.
It has been found that if you eat broccoli once a week, it has the possibility of reducing your chances of prostate cancer by 45%. Once a week is completely achievable and clearly incredibly beneficial!
12
Beyond all the cartilage you see that makes up the exterior of your ear, lies some teeny tiny bones that help your ears receive sound. When they are sliced and turned sideways, mushrooms actually look like ears!
To keep your bones strong, chow down on some mushrooms. They are packed with vitamin D which helps keep your bones strong and highly functioning. Without healthy ear bones, your hearing would be significantly lacking!
13
Ginseng root has a very potent flavor, but can be added to hot water or tea to reap the nutritional benefits! The craziest part about ginseng root is how similar it looks to the human body.
You can call ginseng root a holistic food because of its incredible healing properties. It can help reduce inflammation, diseases and even cancer. Ginseng root also helps you stay alert and have a sharper mind! Ginseng root is compared to the shape of a human body because it helps your entire body from head to toe.
14
Olives are one of those foods that people either love or love to hate! They are served it many Italian and Mediterranean dishes such as Greek salad, with chicken or, with fish.
Olives have been found to not only look like a woman’s ovaries but also help the ovaries. It is not completely clear how, but scientists believe that the healthy fats in olives can help suppress any genes that predispose a woman to get ovarian cancer.
15
Much like a tomato, the heart is red and complex! Just like a heart, tomatoes have small chambers inside – but a tomato is filled with liquid and seeds instead of blood!
Eating tomatoes can help your heart health because they contain lycopene, which can help reduce your chances of getting heart disease.
16
Watching television always results in you seeing at least one commercial advertising for products that can help you get brighter, whiter teeth. When you get to the store though, those whitening products are really expensive!
This is where strawberries come in as very useful fruits! If you regularly eat strawberries, they can help whiten your teeth! Strawberries contain something called malic acid which helps whiten the enamel on your teeth. Next time you go to the grocery store, skip the oral hygiene aisle and grab some strawberries!
Lindsay loves cooking fun and creative meals for friends and family. At home, you can find her trying out a new recipe found on Pinterest while trying to balance her husband's sweet tooth with her healthy eating habits. If she's not in the kitchen, you'll find Lindsay photographing people she loves and going out with friends to try the newest restaurant in her small town.