Super (Healthy) Foods

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Super (Healthy) Foods

 

Lots of foods are good for you. But only a few are

" SuperFoods " Ñwith enough nutrients to give your

body a real boost. In his 2004 book " SuperFoods, "

author Steven Pratt outlines some of the top fruits

and vegetables to eat. Here are some:

 

Beans don't just carryÊ ÒvegetarianÕs protein.ÓÊ They may

help prevent cancer, too.Ê Low fat and vitamin-filled,

beans contain Òlignins,Ó which may reduce the risk

of breast cancer and other cancers related to estrogen levels.

 

The omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon can help reduce

your risk of major health problems such as strokes, heart

attacks and hypertension.

 

Tomatoes, which are botanically classified as a fruit

(not a vegetable), serve as a great antioxidant and are a

good source of heart-healthy nutrients potassium, niacin

and vitamin B6.Ê

 

The appearance of broccoli on the superfoods list is not

much of a surprise.Ê But did you know that broccoli

contains powerful antioxidants that can help protect against

cataracts?Ê

 

The Vitamin C in oranges is a well-known boost for your

immune systemÑbut you need to eat the pulp; it has ten

times the Vitamin C of orange juice.

 

Another undercover fruit, pumpkins donÕt exist solely for

carving and pumpkin pie.Ê Visit www.pumpkinnook.com

for recipes for this food, which is high in fiber, vitamin C,

vitamin E and potassium.

 

BlueberriesÕ dark color adds to their health benefitsÑ

the darker a berry, the higher its content of anthocyanin,

an important antioxidant.Ê

 

Drinking tea might reduce your chances of developing

cavitiesÑit contains fluoride and helps prevent bacteria

from adhering to your teeth.Ê

 

Yogurt is a calcium-rich food that contains probiotics that

help digest lactose, making it a good substitute for milk

if you are lactose intolerant.

ÑNicole Joseph

© 2005 Newsweek, Inc

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