On Rosh Hashono, it is customary to eat various symbols that symbolize our hopes for a good and blessed New Year:

Pomegranate – 🍎 Our merits should increase like pomegranate seeds. 

Carrot – 🥕 May You decree good decrees for us. 

Rubia – 🌿 May our merits increase. 

Dates – 🌴 May our enemies be no more.

Apple in honey – 🍯 May You renew a good and sweet year for us. 

Silka (Beets)- 🌱 Let our enemies be removed.

Karti (leek) – 🌴 May those who hate us be gone.

Fish – 🐟 May we be fruitful as fish.

Let us review the health properties of the different simanim and understand how we can incorporate them into our diet throughout the year. 

Let’s start with the pomegranate, the king of fruits: 

The pomegranate contains a high concentration of polyphenols – powerful antioxidants that benefit the health of blood vessels and the heart and lower blood cholesterol levels. ❤️ The red pigment – anthocyanin – is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, slows down aging processes, increases iron levels and even fights cancer. 🍇 The pomegranate can be consumed as is or incorporated into salads and even juice squeezed from it. 🥗

Carrot- 🥕 Contains a good amount of beta carotene, antioxidants, and various minerals as well as dietary fiber. It improves eye health, dental health, improves digestive processes, helps with weight loss, and maintains heart and blood vessel health. Carrots can be combined in a large variety of foods from salads to soups, pies, and fritters. 🥕

Honey – 🍯 Nature’s strong anti-pollution agent, honey is antibacterial, helps to heal cuts and scars when applied externally, and is good for treating coughs. It is important to know: honey behaves in our body just like sugar, so it is advisable to consume it in moderation. 🍯

Silka – beets or beet leaves. 🌱 The beetroot is rich in iron, excellent for constipation problems, restores and cleanses the liver, reduces blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, cleans blood vessels, and improves brain functions. Beetroot leaves are a wonderful source of vitamins A, C, and E and contain many antioxidants, as well as calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K which are essential for bone health. Beetroot can be eaten grated in salads, raw or cooked, and even baked in the oven, sliced or cubed, with a little olive oil and salt. The beetroot leaves will fit into soups, quiches and even hidden in meatballs. 🥗

Dates – “Nature’s Chocolate” 🍫 Can be a great substitute for a sweet snack. They contain dietary fiber and are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Excellent for the treatment of constipation, dates reduce cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and contribute to maintaining the health of the heart and blood vessels. It is recommended to consume them with the addition of raw nuts that will balance the rise in blood sugar. And not more than 2 at a time. 🌰

Fish – an excellent source of protein, fish such as mackerel, salmon, cod, sole and halibut, and Buri in Israel, contain omega 3 which is a building block for many processes in the body such as hormonal function, cognitive function, skin health, and more. It is recommended to consume fish at least twice a week. 🐟

Check out our recipe for leek or beet leaf fritters (latkes) for a good and healthy new year!