I love finding out that some of my favorite foods are actually super foods – who doesn’t like a handful of nuts or a bowl of guacamole made with fresh avocados? Blueberries are fantastic and apples are good with salt, with peanut butter, or just plain fresh off the tree. Pomegranates are exotic and turn your lips and fingers red but the fun is in the crunch of each little seed or the taste of a big gulp of pomegranate juice. Eggs are versatile and can be made at least 20 different tasty ways. Cabbage, bok choy and broccoli can be sneaked into a lot of meals without offending anyone too much. Mushrooms sauteed, grilled, baked, stuffed…with lots of garlic – yum. These are just a few power foods but very tasty ones at that!
Nuts, Particularly Almonds
1.5 ounces of most nuts per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. Almonds are loaded with fiber and monounsaturated fat, both of which have been shown to lower cholesterol. Despite being relatively high in fat and calories, studies show that eating almonds can actually help with weight loss.
Avocados
Avocados are high in fat but it is monounsaturated fat which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Avocados aid in blood and tissue regeneration, stabilize blood sugar and are great for the heart. They have 11 to 17 grams of fiber per fruit and are and excellent source of Lutein which is key to eye and skin health.. They’re loaded with fiber (11 to 17 grams per fruit) and are a good source of lutein, an antioxidant linked to eye and skin health.
Apples
An apple a day does keep the doctor away. Apples are are full of antioxidant, quercetin and catechin which protect your cells. Don’t peel them though!!! The skins have more fiber then the inside and about two times more than other fruits.
Blueberries
Blueberries are tiny but powerful. They pack an huge anti-aging punch and are loaded with antioxidants including anthocyans which improve vision and brain function. Studies show that the blueberries slows the effects of aging on motor coordination and memory. They also reduce inflammation which is part of most chronic diseases as well as having anti-cancer activity. Time to stock up on those blueberries and a good reason to eat blueberry muffins, pancakes, cobbler, jam, heck, maybe even take a bath in it.
Pomegranates
Pomegranate seeds are tasty and good for you, full of anti-oxidants they are also great food for anti-aging and reducing the risks of cancer and heart disease. They also take forever to get out of the fruit so they provide their own sort of entertainment or challenge if you will.
Cabbage
Brassica genus includes cabbage, broccoli and bok choy to name a few. These vegetables include indoles which have been proven to reduce the risk of cancer dramatically. Eating cabbage more than once a week can cut chances of colon cancer, stimulate the immune system, kill bacteria and viruses, and purify your blood. Not a problem to eat it more than once a week if you live in Ireland…
Fish and Fish Oil
Mom always told me that eating fish would make me smart. But it does more than that, it reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, strokes. diabetes, and arthritis. Fatty fish may also help alleviate depression. Eat at least two fish meals per week, especially wild salmon, herring, and sardines, which are highest in Omega 3 fats.
Garlic
Garlic is an age-old remedy for just about everything – even warding off vampires. But research shows that a few cloves of garlic a day cut the odds of subsequent heart attacks in half for heart disease patients as well as being at the top of the list for cancer-prevention foods. Garlic is detoxifying, antibacterial and anti-viral so go ahead and indulge in that Italian food you love
Mushrooms
Mushrooms have been used in Asia for centuries to prevent and treat cancer, viruses, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Mushrooms are used in Asia today to help counteract the toxic effects of chemo and radiation. A nice shitake mushroom stir fry sounds perfect right about now doesn’t it?
Eggs
Eggs contain all nine essential amino acids! What’s more they are only about 80 calories a piece. The yolks are actually very good for you as well because they contain choline which protects heart and brain function and prevents fat from accumulating in the liver. So splurge on those Eggs Benedict!
