You Are What You Eat: Superfoods of the year
Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!We spent much of 2007 reviewing all sorts of Super Foods -- click here for all previous You Are What You Eat Super Food posts -- and now that we're barreling quickly into 2008, heres' a handful of super items -- some old; some new -- that are sure to get lots of attention.
Probiotics
Look for labels advertising live and active cultures and you'll get yourself some health-enhancing organisms. Found primarily in yogurt and fermented dairy products, these will help you maintain a healthy digestive tract and may even ward off cancer.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D strengthens bones and prevents and treats muscle weakness, gum disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, and certain cancers. Too much vitamin D can be toxic over time, though, so keep your daily intake under 2000 IU. Look for D to emerge as the vitamin of the year.
The Omega-3 Fatty Acid DHA
This omega-3 is not only good for the heart -- it can also improve mood, mental function, and vision and can cut your risk for certain cancers, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Try for two weekly servings of fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines) or 200 milligrams daily from supplements or fortified foods.
Nuts
Make it just a handful several times per week and nuts are a good thing. They can help cut your heart disease risk by as much as 39 percent and can lower your cancer and diabetes risk.
Curry Power
Curry powder contains the goods to help the brain get rid of amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Curry's compounds also boost immunity.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-20-2008 @ 9:55AM
marcie0305 said...
On probiotics, hands-down one of the best (and cheapest) sources is kefir:
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com/2007/08/spending-money-on-activia-or-danactive.html
On DHA: I remember Brain White making a post that said cod liver oil has some issues, does anyone have a source for that?
Thanks!
~Marcie
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com
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