Ten Superfoods from Men’s Health

A reader sent me a tip about Men’s Health article titled “The 10 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating”, and while it was originally written with men in mind, I think the info is something we can all benefit from, gender aside. According to the article, here are ten of the healthiest foods (and what makes them superfoods) you should consider tossing in your shopping cart next time you head to the grocery:

1. Beets: “…one of the best sources of both folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower your blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease.”

2. Cabbage: “…loaded with valuable nutrients. At the top of the list is sulforaphane, a chemical that increases your body’s production of enzymes that disarm cell-damaging free radicals and reduce your risk of cancer.”

3. Guava: “Guava has a higher concentration of lycopene — an antioxidant that fights prostate cancer — than any other plant food, including tomatoes and watermelon.”

4. Swiss chard: “A half cup of cooked Swiss chard provides a huge amount of both lutein and zeaxanthin, supplying 10 mg each. These plant chemicals, known as carotenoids, protect your retinas from the damage of aging, according to Harvard researchers.” See related info on my previous post on Xangold and macular degeneration.

5. Cinnamon: “Cinnamon helps control your blood sugar, which influences your risk of heart disease. In fact, USDA researchers found that people with type-2 diabetes who consumed 1 g of cinnamon a day for 6 weeks (about 1/4 teaspoon each day) significantly reduced not only their blood sugar but also their triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol.”

6. Purslane: “Purslane has the highest amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fats of any edible plant [and] 10 to 20 times more melatonin — an antioxidant that may inhibit cancer growth — than any other fruit or vegetable tested.”

7. Pomegranate Juice: “… 2 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for a year decreased their systolic (top number) blood pressure by 21 percent and significantly improved bloodflow to their hearts. What’s more, 4 ounces provides 50 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.” Also, see my posts on the studies pomegranate juice and Alzheimer’s Disease and Cancer (lung cancer and prostate cancer).

8. Goji berries: “Goji berries have one of the highest ORAC ratings [and have been] found that the sugars that make goji berries sweet reduce insulin resistance — a risk factor of diabetes — in rats.” I’m not sure you can get them in the supermarket, but they are ubiquitous online! Just look at the choices of Goji Berry Juice products in Amazon.

9. Dried plums: “Prunes contain high amounts of neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, antioxidants that are particularly effective at combating the “superoxide anion radical” [snip] thought to be one of the primary causes of cancer.”

10. Pumpkin seeds: “Downing pumpkin seeds is the easiest way to consume more magnesium. [snip] Men with the highest levels of magnesium in their blood have a 40 percent lower risk of early death than those with the lowest levels.”

If these stuff sound foreign to you, have a look at the Men’s Health article on how to incorporate these superfoods in your diet. Some recipes sound easy enough to toss together. Check it out!

(Thanks for the tip, David!)