The superfoods you need to eat to keep EVERY part of your body healthy - including Brazil nuts for your ovaries and fenugreek for your breasts

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You are what you eat, so goes the saying - but is there any truth in it?

The stomach-soothing properties of ginger are well known, while peppermint is also meant to restore good feeling in your gut.

But are there superfoods which can boost the health of your other body parts, such as your ovaries, breasts and brain?

FEMAIL asked London-based nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert to reveal the foods that we should all be eating to improve the health of certain body parts, from our blood to our bones. 

BREASTS: FENUGREEK

Fenugreek has been found to cure digestive problems and to improve breast milk secretion in nursing mothers

Fenugreek seeds are tiny, bitter, dicotyledonous seeds of the herb fenugreek. Toasted gently, they exhibit a strongly aromatic and pungent flavour.

Traditionally, fenugreek has been found to cure digestive problems and to improve breast milk secretion in nursing mothers.

The herb contains phytoestrogens, which are plant chemicals similar to the female sex hormone estrogen. A key compound, diosgenin, has been shown experimentally to increase milk flow.

Some in the scientific community believe that as fenugreek stimulates sweat production, the modified sweat gland in the breast provide benefits.

Some studies found that fenugreek can increase a nursing mother's milk supply within 24 to 72 hours after first taking the herb. Many women today take fenugreek in a pill form (which are ground seeds placed in capsules). 

Fenugreek can also be taken in tea form, although tea is believed to be less effective than the pills and doesn't have such a pleasant taste, as it's very bitter - which amusingly isn't everyone's cup of tea.

And as with all of the foods on this list, you will need to eat other foods too to drastically improve the health of one particular body part.

BLOOD: GARLIC 

Garlic has been shown to reduce blood pressure in people who have abnormally high blood pressure, which is known as hypertension

Garlic has been shown to reduce blood pressure in people who have abnormally high blood pressure, which is known as hypertension.

However, there does need to be a high dose of the compound in garlic called allicin. Allicin enters the body from the digestive tract and travels all over the body, where it exerts its potent biological effects. 

Four cloves a day is the recommended amount, so get eating lots of garlic!

Garlic is also super nutritious and contains: manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium, and fibre, as well as decent amounts of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1.

BONES: FIGS 

Figs are very high in calcium, which is important for bone and general health

You have more calcium in your body than any other mineral, and it's very important for general health and not just our bones and teeth.

It has a key role to play also in cardiovascular health, muscle function and nerve signalling.

Not only are figs one of my favourite items of fruit, they are very high in calcium.

Dried figs are also a great source of antioxidants and fibre, and have more calcium than other dried fruits. In fact, an ounce of dried figs contains 5 per cent of an adult's recommended daily allowance, which will also provide decent amounts of potassium and vitamin K.

WOMB: TURKEY 

Turkey is very high in the healthy amino acid L-arginine, which helps to increase blood flow to the uterus, ovaries and genitals

Healthy amino acid L-arginine - found in turkey - promotes the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which is naturally produced by the body.

In turn, NO is important for blood dilation as well as increasing blood flow to the uterus, ovaries and genitals.  

You'll find the highest amount of L-arginine in turkey breast; one cooked breast has 16 grams of the stuff.

Not only is turkey a great source of protein, it also has a high concentration of other nutrients such as B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.

LUNGS: CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES 

These vegetables are full of healthy antioxidants and some studies suggest a link with preventing lung cancer

These include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and kale.

What we eat may not directly affect the lungs, but our food indirectly touches them through the cardiovascular system and by providing antioxidant protection.

Our lungs make up a large part of our immune system. Pollutants and infection-causing microbes are captured by mucus in the lungs and shuttled upward by tiny cilia for us to cough out or swallow. 

Sneezes are another way the lungs help rid us of infection or pollution, often before these invaders even pass beyond the sinuses. 

These vegetables are full of healthy antioxidants and some studies suggest a link with preventing lung cancer. Be careful though if you suffer from a thyroid condition as too many of these healthy veggies could cause problems.

OVARIES: BRAZIL NUTS 

Eating selenium-high foods, such as Brazil nuts, can promote ovarian health

Healthy ovaries are crucial for reproductive health and our sex hormones, so consuming foods rich in a few key nutrients can promote ovarian health.

But you do need a good variety. Foods rich in selenium, such as Brazil nuts, also benefit your ovaries.

Selenium is involved with inducing glutathione peroxidases, a family of enzymes that work as antioxidants in the body. Selenium then fights free radicals and protects your tissues from damage, which in drastic cases, can cause serious health implications such as cancer.

Selenium also works with another protein, called Sep15, that fights cancer growth. If your diet contains a good amount of selenium, as well as other antioxidants, this can help lower your risk of ovarian cancer, according to a study published in BMC Cancer in 2012.

LEGS: EGGS 

Eggs are full of nutrients such as leucine which are key for upping muscle growth

The myths surrounding eggs increasing cholesterol levels are incorrect; eggs are a great source of protein. It is now reported in numerous studies that eggs and dietary cholesterol do not negatively affect cholesterol levels in the blood.

In fact, eggs raise HDL (the good cholesterol). They also change LDL (bad cholesterol) from small, dense LDL to large LDL, which is benign.

Eggs are also full of nutrients such as leucine which are key for upping muscle growth. 

They're also a cheap source of protein as a large egg contains only 77 calories, with 5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein, with nine essential amino acids.

So, if you are looking at supporting your muscles, eat eggs.

HEART: NUTS

Nuts are very high in fat but it is the fat in the nuts amongst other properties that can help our hearts

Nuts are very high in fat but it is the fat in the nuts amongst other properties that can help our hearts. 

The cholesterol-lowering power of nuts is believed to because of their high monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content. Several studies suggest that nuts help lower the risk of heart disease and strokes because of their cholesterol-lowering benefits.

One study reported that after consuming whole pecans, participants experienced a 26–33 per cent drop in their levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol - a major risk for heart disease - two to eight hours later. 

Pistachios are also wonderful for heart health. But my favourite nut for the job has to be almonds. Almonds appear to reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL levels.  

BRAIN: SALMON 

Some observational studies have shown that people who eat more fish have slower rates of cognitive decline

Most people do not eat enough fish, unlike the Mediterraneans and it's a big reason why their diets are healthier. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are absolutely essential for growth and development.

The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is especially important, because it accumulates in the developing brain and eyes. As we age, our brain function will often deteriorate and this is often called age-related cognitive decline. 

This is perfectly normal for most of us but then there are also serious neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and dementia, which of course, we would all like to lower our risk of getting.

Some observational studies have shown that people who eat more fish have slower rates of cognitive decline.

One mechanism could be related to grey matter in the brain. Grey matter is the major functional tissue in your brain, containing the neurons that process information, store memories and make you human. Studies have shown that people who eat fish every week have more grey matter in the centres of the brain that regulate emotion and memory. 

GINGER: STOMACH 

It is the natural oil in ginger which is responsible for much of its medicinal properties; it has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

Ginger comes in various forms including fresh, dried, powdered, and even as an oil. It is a very common ingredient in recipes and tastes amazing. 

The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, and is responsible for much of its medicinal properties; it has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Ginger has been shown to be effective as a tool to help prevent nausea in pregnancy. In one review, eating just over one gram of ginger was found to significantly reduce symptoms of nausea.

Digestion problems are also commonly treated with ginger. It is suggested that the stomach not emptying its contents quickly enough is a major driver of indigestion, and ginger has been shown to speed up the emptying of the stomach in people with chronic indigestion.