Italian minestrone soup preserves our mental and physical health

Italian minestrone soup preserves our mental and physical health
The Italian island of Sardinia has the largest number of healthy centenarians in the world, apart from the Japanese island of Okinawa. Italians in Sardinia have preserved mental and physical health in addition to longevity. Scientists believe that the secret of good health is in the minestrone soup that Italians have on their menu every day. The oldest families in Sardinia eat minestrone soup every day – a simple habit that any person can adopt and maintain.
Potatoes reduce blood pressure by almost 5% if consumed regularly for just one month. Potatoes are higher in phytomaterials and antioxidants than bananas (and include potassium, which lowers blood pressure). British scientists recently discovered that potatoes contain “cucoamine” a substance with an antihypertensive effect (which acts like pharmacological ACE inhibitors and which has not yet been discovered in any other food).
Onions and garlic protect against colds and flu. Both foods are rich in allicin (a substance with an antibiotic effect that has been proven to destroy a large number of various bacteria and viruses). Garlic stimulates the activity of immune cells that destroy cold and flu viruses. Onion contains sulfur, so it alleviates the symptoms of colds and flu, sneezing and nasal congestion.
Tomato – rejuvenates the heart. This delicious vegetable is high in the antioxidant lycopene (which dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and lowers blood cholesterol and blood pressure). Finnish research shows that a diet rich in tomatoes reduces the risk of stroke by 65%, while other scientific studies say that tomato consumption raises the survival rate after a heart attack by 300%.
A mixture of herbs – helps prevent cancer. Basil and parsley, for example, are herbs that are traditionally used in Italian cuisine and give dishes a fantastic taste. Italians also use fennel, which is their favorite vegetable in soups and stews. Herbs and fennel provide phytomaterials that protect the entire organism from cancer. The pigment chlorophyll is in their composition and binds to heavy metals (such as nicotine and sulphite), which it safely eliminates from our body. That is why cases of intestinal cancer are rarely registered in people who eat the most green vegetables, and less than 50%, as well as a reduced risk of liver cancer by 64%.
Beans and bob-improve the mood. The feeling of happiness and eternal optimism are characteristic of longevity. Studies say that beans and broad beans contribute to this. Otherwise, all types of legumes are rich in nutrients that have a positive effect on good mood (vitamins from the B group, plant fibers, zinc, copper, selenium and minerals that reduce the feeling of anxiety). Bob is an absolute champion among green vegetables. This almost neglected legume contains a chemical substance that raises the level of dopamine and is abundant in a natural source of the amino acid tryptophan (which, due to its calming effect, facilitates sleep and alleviates the feeling of anxiety).
Melissa’s Italian family is made up of brothers and sisters from Sardinia. According to the Guinness Book of Records, they are officially the oldest members of one family in the world.

Recipe for Minestrone soup according to the Melis family.
For 6 people you need:

500 gram can of white beans or chickpeas
2 spoons of olive oil
one medium-sized chopped onion
2 spoons of chopped garlic
2 medium-sized potatoes cut into cubes.
-2 carrots cut into pieces
-2 chopped branches of celery and fennel
can of crushed pellets of 800 grams
-chopped fresh (or dried) herbs (basil and parsley, etc.)
-pasta
salt and pepper
a little grated hard cheese
Preparation of Minestrone soup: drain the beans and save the liquid. In a deep container, heat the oil at a moderate temperature. Add the onion and garlic. Stir occasionally until the onion softens. Add potatoes, carrots, celery and fennel. Stew for a few more minutes. Add the tomatoes and the reserved liquid from the can of beans. Add more water to cover the vegetables. Cover the pot and wait for it to boil, then reduce the heat. Add the pasta, herbs and beans. Continue cooking until desired consistency. Add salt and pepper and serve with grated cheese.
Nutritional values per portion of soup: 220 kcal, 11.6 grams of fat, 8.7 grams of protein, 19.2 grams of carbohydrates (a high percentage of about 80% dietary fiber that also does not cause blood sugar fluctuations – which is important for diabetics).