We all know we should eat whole foods right…and we are aware of the benefits of a whole foods diet – such as vitamins, minerals and even big fancy words like antioxidants! But the question is, are we eating them?
It’s one thing to know they are important, but unless we put this knowledge into action in our lives each day, then it’s simply useless mumbo-jumbo to our bodies. Simply put, we cannot enjoy the benefits these powerful “super” foods provide unless our body consumes them. It sure would be nice if that old saying “it’s the thought that counts” worked in this scenario. The rise in diseases such as cancer and obesity, as well other conditions such as the massive increase in the rate of allergies and asthma is alarming. But is it any wonder when so much of our food supply can be attained at a drive-thru, or it comes wrapped in plastic, vaccuum-sealed or genetically modified?
A food that comes prepared as previously stated does not qualify as a SUPER food. What is a superfood then? According to THE Dr. Oz “A Superfood is the newest name scientists, nutritionists, and doctors have tagged onto foods with an especially “good for you” reputation! Most superfoods are in the fruits, vegetables, and nuts/seeds categories. They have extremely high nutritional values, and some of their chemicals have been found to reduce the effect of certain disease processes.”
The beneficial properties of superfoods (and there are so many that my blog might blow up from information overload, yeah.) is astounding and the beauty is that they come directly to us via Mother Earth – not a lab and not even a supplement. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of the following superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer. One thing they all have in common: “Superfood is ‘real’ unprocessed food that comes from nature, not a factory. These healthy natural foods are low in fat and calories and full of nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, alpha- and beta- carotene, antioxidants (benefits: protect cells against damage) and hundreds of phytochemicals (benefits: reduce cell damage, stimulate the immune system, and fight bacteria and viruses).
These puppies are good stuff….so do what mama always said and Eat ‘em! And no, I won’t sit here and make you clean your plate but I will tell you this, I believe with my whole heart that if we spend each day eating these types of foods…I know without a doubt that our bodies will be getting more of they need, want and crave rather than what might be convenient at the moment. Our health does not care about what might be convenient. It just doesn’t.
So what are they? Dr. Oz has a great list of superfoods that have been shown to help fight cancer among other awesome benefits!
1. Green Tea - full of antioxidants (also called catechins), this wonder tea has important qualities for maintaining superior health. Green Tea’s catechins have anti-cancer properties and scavenge for free-radicals that can cause a host of conditions as well as preventing and reducing cancers.
2. Flaxseed - another big cancer fighter, these powerful seeds are rich in lignans and alpha linolenic acid (ALA) an omega-3 fat with cancer fighting properties, anti-inflammatory benefits, promotes bone health and protects against heart disease and diabetes to name a few! Wow! I am so glad I enjoy flax so much – amazing huh?
3. Red Grapes and Berries - The pigments that make berries so vibrantly colored are good for our health! Berries are packed with vitamins, minerals, flavenoids and phytochemicals which destroy cancer cells and positively impact our health.
4. Broccoli, Broccoli Sprouts, Cruciferous vegetables - “Containing more Vitamin C than an orange and as much calcium as a glass of milk, broccoli is also rich in substances called isothiocyanates — chemicals shown to stimulate the body’s production of its own cancer-fighting substances. There is convincing evidence that cruciferous vegetables in general lowered risk for many forms of the disease, including tumors of the stomach, esophagus, lung, oral cavity and pharynx (throat), endometrium (lining of the uterus), pancreas, and colon” (CNN).
5. Tomatoes - Lycopene is found in tomatoes and has been extensively studies for it’s cancer preventing properties, antioxidant benefits as well as colon, prostate and pancreatic health. Fresh ripened tomatoes are also an excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C and play an important role in neutralizing dangerous free radicals.
6. Resveratrol from red wine - Resveratrol has been shown to have very powerful cancer-fighting properties which suppresses the abnormal cell growth that leads to many kinds of breast cancer. Resveratrol acts to block the action of estrogen, which is largely responsible for breast cancer” (Dr Oz). Oh but before we all get too excited…the Doc recommends just 1 glass a day. Darn. Does it count if we only use 1 glass and refill it 2-3 times? What? He said just “1 glass” 
7. Tumeric - 1 tsp. per day has been proven to prevent and slow tumor growth! Tumeric is a spice with powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has a long history of use in Chinese and Indian medicine for conditions such as improved liver function, cardiovascular protection and alzheimer’s disease and even cholesterol lowering effects. From the doc: “A word of warning, if you already have cancer, talk to your doctor before adding tumeric to your diet as it can make your anti-cancer drugs less effective.”
8. Watercress, Spinach, Kale – watercress can prevent the DNA damage that leads to cancer and antioxidants in the nutrient-rich greens prevented free radicals from damaging healthy cells! Another benefit to including these in your diet is called, Chlorophyllin, which has been proven to reduce the risk of liver cancer.
I like Dr Oz. His enthusiasm and zest for healthy living is awesome! I know I could include these in my diet way more than I do and I am determined to make it happen. I began thinking of recipes I could make while incorporating these superfoods and amazingly – I think this would be pretty simple! Think about if we just had a spinach salad each day with broccoli sprouts, tomatoes and flaxseed sprinkled on top, that would be half of what we need right there! Have a hot cup of green tea in the afternoon and a lovely red Merlot in the evening and we’re almost there! We could totally do this, right!?
I’m in! You?
Do you know of any other ways we could include superfoods into our daily lives?
Image credits:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.timeinc.net/recipes/i/recipes/ck/08/11/spinach-salad-ck-1853939-
http://vegetarian.lovetoknow.com/Image:Broccoli_sprouts.jpg
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I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with flaxseed. It drives me nuts (pun really not intended) to see it in “healthy” bread. What a waste! It has to be ground to be digested, so what’s the point? Loves me kale and….well all the other ones too!