Super Green Foods

Super green foods are derived from young cereal grasses such as wheat, barley, rye, oats and alfalfa, as well as spirulina, chlorella, kelp, dulse and other sea vegetables. Perhaps the most nutrient-dense foods on earth, these grasses are richer in nutrients than spinach, broccoli, eggs and chicken in virtually all categories including protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, carotenoids and vitamin E.

Super green foods are the only foods in the vegetable kingdom that enable animals to continually maintain their weight, strength and optimal health even if consumed alone. They abound in unidentified growth factors, powerful antioxidants, immune boosters and many other health enhancing nutrients.

Super green foods are a category of phytonutrient-rich nutritional products derived from green plants, algae and cereal grasses. Green superfoods contain high concentrations of natural chlorophyll and are harvested seasonally to take advantage of high potencies of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Green superfoods are a natural source of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, plant sterols and other nutritional constituents. There is no better natural source of vitamins than green superfoods. They are safe, effective and the perfect adjunct to your daily diet.

Benefits

• naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes
• contains antioxidants and chlorophyll
• safe and effective

A
list of the top 10 healthiest foods may seem like a come-on. Magic food? We all know there are no real magic foods. The road to optimum health is not in a pill or one magic food. But there are foods that pack such a nutritional wallop and possess such powerful health benefits, that they are referred to as “super foods”.

This healthy food list consists of foods that are nutrient dense. That is, they have more nutrients per calorie than most other foods. They have also been proven to contain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that prevent disease: from cancer to heart disease to arthritis, and many more.

These super foods are perfect for heart healthy, low fat cooking and most fit perfectly into a low carb lifestyle as well.

The 10 healthiest foods are foods that are so exceptionally good for us that we should include them in our healthy diet on a regular basis. Our list of super foods is arranged alphabetically, not in order of importance. Each is an amazing food, jam packed with health giving benefits.

The 10 Healthiest Foods to Eat

1. Berries
   
   Berries are extremely rich in antioxidants which help protect the cells in our bodies from damage and therefore from diseases like cancer. Among other things they are also an excellent source of Vitamin C and soluble fiber. Blueberries might help reverse the short term memory loss that often comes with aging.
2. Broccoli
   
   Broccoli (and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage) helps fight cancer, especially breast, colon and lung. It boosts the immune system. Broccoli also contains antioxidants and a substance called sulforaphane, which research is showing to be a powerful cancer fighter and preventer.
3. Citrus Fruits
   
   The citrus bioflavanoids in oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit have anti-cancer and antioxidant properties.
   Many of these citrus bioflavanoids have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and blood clot inhibiting abilities.
4. Garlic
   
   Numerous studies have shown that regular consumption of garlic can lower our blood pressure. It also prevents the blood from being overly sticky and decreases LDL cholesterol (the “bad” one) while increasing the good HDL cholesterol.
5. Nuts
   
   Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a special type of fat that is essential for our bodies, but that the body cannot produce. Omega-3 essential fatty acids protect us against heart disease.
   Almonds are also known for their ability to help lower LDL cholesterol levels.
6. Oats
   
   Oats also help reduce cholesterol. Research shows that one bowl of oatmeal per day can reduce cholesterol by up to 23%. Oats are also considered an excellent grain for diabetics as they have less impact on blood sugar levels than some other grains.
7. Salmon
   
   The Omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and other fatty fish may help prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the body’s rate of blood clotting.
8. Spinach
   
   Spinach’s secret weapon, lutein, makes it one of the best foods in the world to prevent cataracts, as well as age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the elderly.
9. Tomatoes
   
   Tomatoes contain high levels of lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and as such helps to protect the cells in our bodies from damage.
10. Turkey
    
    Turkey is one of the leanest protein foods and is low in calories, making it an excellent healthy food choice. Turkey also contains selenium which has been shown to inhibit cancer development, improve the immune system, and aid in the metabolism of our thyroid hormone.

You can see that the top 10 healthiest foods, or “super foods”, are also some of our favorites. By including these super foods in a healthy diet on a regular basis you can easily gain many health benefits.

Making healthy food choices just got easier.

About The Author:
Karen CIancio is a cook and a fan of all things cooking related. Her website www.cookingnook.com contains recipes that feature each of these super foods plus lots of other recipes, cooking tips and kitchen ideas.

Many nutrition experts recommend eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and those same nutritionists understand the value of eating a variety of different colored fruits and vegetables.

Blueberries and Nutrition

That is because different colored fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients, and blueberries are among the most nutrient dense of all foods. In addition to their many other benefits, blueberries are thought to reduce the risk of many varieties of cancers. Blueberries are among the richest sources of antioxidants, which are thought to play a strong role in the prevention of many cancers.

In addition to their possible role in the prevention of many forms of cancer, blueberries are being studied for their important role in protecting the brain and preventing memory loss. In addition, blueberries are thought to be one of the best fruits at improving the function of the urinary tract and even retarding the aging process. Blueberries are rich in many healthy phytochemicals, including the anthocyanins and phenolics which are being studied for their antiaging and anticancer benefits.

Health benefits of blueberries

Some of the many health benefits associated with blueberries include improved eyesight, reduced risk of heart disease, stronger blood vessels, better memory performance, reduced risk of urinary tract infections and promoting a healthy weight.

Blueberries are also among the richest sources of antioxidants in the diet. Antioxidants are thought to play an important role, both in the prevention of cancer and the mitigation of aging related decline. That is beauase antioxidants are thought to be able to prevent the cell damage that can be caused by free radicals. Free radicals are thought to play an important role in the formation of cancer and in the aging process, so disrupting these free radicals can have many important health benefits.

Antioxidant properties

One of the most important antioxidants contained in blueberries are anthocyanins. These important nutrients are also contined in applies, blackberries, grapes, radishes and red cabbage, but blueberries are among the richest sources of anthocyanins. Blueberries are also being studied for their abilty to reduce the formation of blood clots and preventing heart disease. Blueberries are also thought to help to improve nighttime vision and to slow the progression of macular generation by strengthening the small blood vessels found in the back of the eye.

In addition to their many health benefits, blueberries are among the lowest calorie foods in a healthy diet. A half cup serving of blueberries provides a scant 40 calories, but it provides a strong lineup of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, iron and of course vitamin C. In addition, blueberries are strong sources of dietary fiber. Each half cup serving of blueberries provides a full two grams of dietary fiber, as much as in an entire slice of whole wheat bread.

In short, blueberries are among the richest sources of antioxidants and other important nutrients. In addition, blueberries are delicious, versatile, high in fiber and low in calories. What more could you ask for in a single food?