Jumpstart Your Fitness: Healthy diet hints from around the world

We're lucky today to have access to all kinds of food from all kinds of places around the world, but it can still be hard to eat right because it's amazingly easy to end up eating the same things all the time. If you're stuck in a dieting rut then it might help to shake things up a bit and try some of these healthy staples from across the globe:

Cabbage, from Ireland
Here in the States cabbage isn't all that popular as a main player in dinner, but in Ireland it's a basic staple that originated hundreds of years ago. Most people just think "smelly" when then think of cabbage when in fact they should be thinking "cancer and disease fighting goodness." Cabbage, as well as its cousins broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, and brussel sprouts, is known to be a beneficial fighter against stroke, all kinds of cancers, cognitive decline and diabetes.

Sweet Potatoes, from Okinawa
Okinawa has the largest percentage of residents over the age of 100, which means they're definitely doing something right. The Okinawan diet has all kinds of healthy choices and habits built in, and one of those is sweet potatoes. They're full of antioxidants, carotenoids, vitamins E and B-6, copper and fiber. They're not just for Thanksgiving!

Honey, from Summaria
Honey is slowly getting more famous for its nutritional and healing benefits, but some of the first to recognize its positive qualities were the Sumarians. They've used it for years to treat injuries of all kinds due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammation properties, and in 2007 the FDA approved honey-based wound dressings to be used for certain types of sores, injuries, and burns.

Lentils, from the Middle East
Lentils and other legumes are a staple in most Middle Eastern diets, and for good reason. They're full of amino acids, fiber, B vitamins, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Plus research has shown that in general people who eat beans weigh less than people who don't -- and they're at less risk for heart disease and cancer.

Curry, from India
We constantly hear about how food that's naturally bright in color is usually good for us, and curry is no exception. Full of a compound called curcumin, curry has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-oxidant properties that means it's a good fighter against cancers, heart disease, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and ulcerative colitis.