Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Top 10 Healthiest Foods

1. Olive Oil
2. Blueberries a
3. Yogurt
4. Broccoli
5. Spinach
6. Tomatoes
7. Apples
8. Salmon
9. Sweet potatoes
10. Almonds 




1. Olive Oil contains monounsaturated (good) fats, which have been shown to have some excellent health benefits, such as possibly lowering your risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancer. The popular Mediterranean Diet craze is well founded because people from these countries, who tend to get more of their fat from monounsaturated sources like olive oil and less from saturated and trans fat have lower incidences of heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and asthma. Be sure to buy Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which is the least processed and contains more polyphenols (antioxidants).

2. Blueberries are one of the 10 healthiest foods out there and contain powerful antioxidants that may help lower LDL cholesterol. In fact, these antioxidants were rated #1 in antioxidant activity in a recent Tufts University study that compared 40 fruit and vegetables. Blueberries have been linked to a multitude of health benefits, including lowering your risk of heart disease and cancer, promoting vision and urinary health, and anti-inflammatory properties.

3. Yogurt contains healthy bacteria that helps boost your immune system, fight infection and improve your gastrointestinal health. Yogurt may also help prevent osteoporosis, lower cholesterol and reduce your risk for high blood pressure. It is an excellent source of calcium and B vitamins. Be sure to choose low fat and low sugar yogurts – many flavored yogurts are loaded with sugar so make sure you understand how to read the nutrition label.



4. Broccoli makes the 10 healthiest foods list because it's high in antioxidants and loaded with vitamin C, calcium and folic acid. Broccoli is a proven cancer fighting food – eating broccoli stimulates the body to create natural cancer fighting substances and diets including broccoli have been shown to prevent a number of different types of cancers. Broccoli is also high in soluble fiber and low in calories. Among the other many healthy benefits of broccoli are its’ ability to help prevent osteoporosis and treat high blood pressure.

5. Spinach prevents muscle & bone loss and has been linked to decreased risk of cancer and heart diseases. It’s also very high in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium and folate. Spinach is one the healthiest foods you can eat – calorie for calorie, not many foods can match the nutritional benefits and low calorie content of spinach and other green, leafy vegetables like kale and Swiss chard.

6. Tomatoes are high in lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant that has a ton of health benefits, including helping prevent cancer. Tomatoes are packed with vitamins A and C, as well as potassium. Eating tomatoes also decreases the risk of developing heart disease, increases prostrate health and may lower cholesterol. When choosing ketchup, be sure to pick organic ketchup, which contains much higher amounts of lycopene. Also, tomato juice is a great option, but be sure to choose the low sodium varieties.
7. Apples aid in lowering cholesterol; prevent numerous types of cancer; and have health benefits related to many other conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, and diabetes. Apples are extremely high in antioxidants and contain high amounts of vitamin C and fiber. However, apples tend to be one of the most contaminated fruits with pesticides, so choose organic varieties when possible.

8. Salmon is loaded with heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to a decreased risk of sudden-death heart attacks, heart disease, memory loss, and Alzheimer's. Salmon has also been shown to help control symptoms of arthritis and depression as well. Be sure to choose wild salmon over farm raised (farm raised salmon contain lots of contaminants...check out this link to learn more about why wild salmon is always a better option.

9. Sweet potatoes are one the top 10 healthiest foods list for good reason: they're nutrient-rich foods that contain high amounts of fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Sweet potatoes also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and have been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels (making you feel fuller for longer periods of time) and have cancer and heart disease fighting properties.

10. Almonds round out the 10 healthiest food list. Almonds are loaded with healthy monounsaturated fats and also contain protein,fiber, potassium, and calcium. They are rich in vitamin E and potassium and have been shown to lower cholesterol levels, lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and they have cancer fighting properties as well.

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