1. The List Keeps Growing
The more research that is done about the benefits of certain foods, the more superfoods we are finding. For instance, walnuts, once thought to be bad for you because of their fat and calorie content are now considered a superfood for their heart and cardiovascular health benefits. The truth of the matter is that the more fruits, vegetables and whole foods we eat and the more we avoid processed and pre-packaged foods, the healthier we will be. We'll be reaping the benefits while science is still trying to figure out exactly what those superfoods benefits are.
2. Supplements Are Only Supplementary
Eating whole foods is essential because there are compounds in the foods themselves that a pill can't duplicate. We can reap the anti-cancer benefits from foods such as broccoli only by eating the actual food. Most times it is best to eat your fruits, vegetables and nuts raw to reap the most benefit. Cooking sometimes makes foods, such as broccoli, easier to digest, but takes some of the nutrition, and therefore the benefit out of them.
3. The Stuff That Makes Foods Super
You may have heard of the phytonutrient lycopene, found in tomatoes and tomato products, which keeps men from getting prostate cancer. There are loads of these phytonutrients and phytochemicals in most of our fruits and vegetables. These plant-based chemicals have been tested and shown to sustain human life and aid disease prevention. Tomatoes are not the only source of these little life builders; blueberries, pumpkin, spinach and broccoli are also loaded with health benefits as well.
4. Fishing for Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Everyone knows that omega 3 fatty acids are good for you, but finding them in fish is a tough job with the concerns about high levels of mercury, over fishing and environmental issues. The best source of a low mercury level fish is wild caught Alaskan salmon. You'll want to avoid any and all fish caught or raised in China and don't purchase smooth skinned fish such as catfish, which absorb more of the toxins in the water where they was raised because of the permeability of their skin. In general, it's best to avoid farm-raised fish of any kind because farm raised tends to be exposed to a higher concentration of other toxins as well.
5. Eat a Rainbow
This might sound like a cliche, but eating the brighter and darker foods does have its benefits. Chlorophyll provides anti-cancer benefits, so the darker the green the better in the leafy greens category. which includes broccoli and spinach. The same lycopene found in tomatoes is also found in the red color of watermelon and grapefruit, and betacarotine lurks in the orange color of carrots and sweet potatoes. Fill your plate with colorful foods and you're sure to reap the benefits.
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