We consume many foods that are not healthful. Some of these cause premature aging, illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes as well as obesity. However, there are foods that fight disease, stabilize blood sugar, and boost our metabolism.
One of these is blueberries. Blueberries are chock full of antioxidants which fight free radicals in your body. And free radicals are major contributors to diseases such as cancer.
Another power food is beans. Beans are full of vegetable protein and help stabilize blood sugar.
And yes your mother was right. Broccoli, like its cruciferous friends, is good for you. It is high in fiber and full of carotenoids. High fiber diets are highly recommended as a strategy for preventing colon cancer.
And don t forget wild salmon. Salmon is high in omega 3 fatty acids that lower bad cholesterol levels and help raise good cholesterol levels. Although there has been media hype about limiting fish intake due to the presence of mercury, this does not refer to wild salmon. The mercury levels in farmed salmon may be high enough to merit concern but mercury is not a problem in wild salmon.
For those who remember the cartoon character Popeye, he was right when he said, Eat lotsa spinach. Spinach is also high in fiber and rich in antioxidants. In addition, spinach has a high iron content.
Oranges and grapefruit are equally important in your diet. These citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. vitamin C helps ward off infections and boosts metabolism.
Tomatoes are also rich in vitamin C. And they are beneficial to your kidneys as they help flush out toxins from your body.
For people who are plagued with yeast and urinary tract infections yogurt is a good daily choice. Plus yogurt contains live cultures that aid in digestion.
And go Japanese with soba. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat. Buckwheat is rich in bioflavonoids and has been found to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure if eaten regularly. Buckwheat is also helpful in preventing diabetes as it lowers blood sugar levels.
Another Japanese super food is miso. Miso is a paste made from soybeans and the Japanese make soup from it. Miso is also available in salad dressings and marinades. Researchers have discovered that consuming miso soup on a regular basis prevents breast cancer in women. And health statistics show that Japanese women have a much lower breast cancer rate than American women.
Japanese also eat a lot of seaweed. While this may not sound delectable, seaweed is one of earth s most nutritious foods. It is high in calcium and high in vegetable protein. It is also packed with antioxidants.
And for a beverage, consider green tea. Green tea contains flavonoids that relax the blood vessels and permit blood to flow more freely. This reduces your risk of high blood pressure.
Another food that relaxes the blood vessels is garlic. If you do not want to eat the required two cloves of garlic a day, you can take a supplement of garlic extract that will provide the same benefits. The recommended dose is 1,200 mg.
Not only are these foods beneficial to your overall health they also have weight loss benefits for people who need or want to reduce.