The healthiest foods with some of the highest levels of vitamins and phytonutrients are known as "super foods," according to nutritionist Shirley Perryman at Colorado State University. When picking out food on your next shopping trip, keep an eye out for these super foods. They're practical and functional and can play a major role in your diet as stand-alone items or as part of a larger entrée.
Broccoli
Perryman rates broccoli as one of the top 10 super foods for improving your health. It's one of the best sources of the phytonutrient known as sulforaphane, one of the most powerful anti-cancer nutrients available in foods. This vegetable is rich in vitamin C and vitamin A.
Acai Berries
Dr. Nicholas Perricone, reporting to Oprah Winfrey's official website, praises the acai berry and lists it as the top super food available. Perricone especially loved the berry's "remarkable concentration of antioxidants," saying the level of these disease-fighting nutrients is much higher than in other foods. For example, he says it's 1,000 percent richer in antioxidants than grapes.
Pumpkin
You'll commonly see pumpkins in the grocery store during the Halloween season, but these types of squash are anything but spooky. The more colorful the squash, the richer it is in vitamins. Pumpkin serves up a plethora of vitamins including vitamin C, several B vitamins and very high levels of vitamin A in the form of beta- and alpha-carotene. In fact, this super food contains so much beta-carotene that the Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension recommends it for fighting cancer.
Pomegranates
You can enjoy the exotic pomegranate fruit fresh or in juice form. Chesapeake College's Dr. Amy Paturel rates the fruit as one of the world's 13 most powerful super foods. It has 300 percent more antioxidants than green tea or red wine.
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