In the spirit of healthy vegetarianism, I bring you “super foods,” foods so rich in valuable nutrients that doctors recommend that they be a part of your daily diet to “prevent disease and extend our health span, and perhaps our life span, as well,” according to “SuperFoods Rx” author Steven Pratt, MD.
This is the third part of a series designed to be attached to your hydrogenated oil-free refrigerator.Beans:A low-fat, low-calorie source of protein and an easy way to help control weight and blood sugar. Diets including beans may reduce risk of heart disease and certain cancers. If we all ate a healthy, balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans, as many as one-third of all cancer deaths could be prevented, according to the American Cancer Society. Foods containing soluble fiber, such as beans, were shown to be the most effective in maintaining blood sugar, which prevents diabetes.Blueberries:The best food on the planet to preserve a young brain as we mature is blueberries, according to Pratt’s book. Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) found that blueberries have the highest antioxidant activity of about 40 fresh fruits and vegetables. Packed with antioxidants, blueberries neutralize free radical damage to cells and tissues that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer.Spinach: Spinach is best food on the planet to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which leads to blindness in people over 60. According to research published in the Journal of Nutrition, carotenoids found in spinach and other green leafy vegetables may help fight human prostate cancer. Spinach also has more protein than many other vegetables. Fresh spinach has more than four times as much vitamin C and 12 times as much betacarotene as iceberg lettuce, so use spinach for salads instead!SOURCES: www.americanbean.org, www.blueberry.org, www.beansforhealth.org, www.webmd.com, www.harvard.edu