5 Super Foods
Blueberries have been highly valued not only as a highly nutritional food, but also for their medicinal properties and even for non-food uses such as making paints and dyes. They have been shown to help reverse damage done by toxins and free radicals and help your body defend itself against dangerous pathogens. Being low in calories and high in fiber, these little berries actually rank the highest of any fruit for antioxidants are an excellent snack for those of your following the Ideal Lifestyle!
Broccoli is one of the most nutrient-dense foods known. Rich in vitamin C and calcium, it helps boost the immune system, lowers the incidence of cataracts, and helps build bones. It also contains folate, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and stroke. Broccoli is packed in fiber, which not only aids in digestion but keeps you feeling full. It is also very low in calories- one cup of chopped raw broccoli has only 31 calories!
Omega 3-Rich Fish may help lower triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind). Consuming a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids has been associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and prostate cancer. Omega 3s are required in human health but cannot be made by the body so we much consume them- they are essential fatty acids. Since it's not recommended that we eat fish every day, fish oil supplements are the easiest and most realistic way to get what your body needs on a daily basis since they are purified and free of contaminants.
Tomatoes contain lycopene, which has been found to have antioxidant effects and may also block cancer cell growth. This fruit that acts like a vegetable is also rich in vitamin C and potassium. There are more than 7500 varieties grown around the world and they come in almost every color imaginable including red, green, yellow, orange, pink, black, brown, white and purple!
Turkey, believe it or not, is considered a Super Food! It earns this title because it's low in fat, highly nutritious, versatile and easy to get year round in a variety of ways- whole, ground, deli sliced, by the leg or breast, skinless. Turkey is rich in Zinc which helps boost the immune system and it also provides us with niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. It is estimated that about one-third of the annual consumption of turkey in the U.S. takes place in the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, but since it's actually a very nutritional meat you may want to consider consuming it year round.
