Eating Fabulous

Surprisingly Healthy Foods

by ruth on January 5th, 2007

During the last few days, one of the top resolutions I’ve read and heard people make is that they are going to try and eat healthier this year. The way they said it, they sounded like it was some sort of death sentence!

Well, no need to mope, guys! If you’ve been reading this blog, you’ll know by now that healthy food does not necessarily equate to bland, boring, and tasteless stuff you eat just to stave off hunger. Forbes gives us a slideshow, featuring 9 surprisingly healthy foods:

1. Chocolates: Dark ones for your heart, milky ones for your brain.
2. Oils: Saturated fats are just one part of the equation. Some oils are also rich in Vitamin E. “A fat soluble vitamin, it works as an antioxidant and may lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, protect against heart disease and promote healthy skin.”
3. Potatoes: “Red, purple-skinned and sweet potatoes also are high in carotenoids, which protect against lung cancer and help fight heart disease and diabetes.” And scientists are continuously on the hunt for other varieties of phytochemical rich potatoes. Remember my entry on blue potato chips?
4. Nuts and Nut Butters: Walnuts, for example, are even better than olive oil in preventing heart disease, according to a recent study.
5. Coffee: I’ve covered coffee extensively here at EatingFabulous, discussing its benefits on decreasing risks of diabetes, reducing cognitive decline and many more.
6. Bruschetta: “Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant that can protect against cancer, heart disease and even macular degeneration.” And then there’s the garlic and olive oil, too!
7. Spices: Large doses of cinnamon may help lower blood glucose, and turmeric has been reported to ease pain in arthritis patients, as well as lower risk of colon cancer.
8. Tea: “Studies suggest that many types of tea, including black, green, white or oolong, may help prevent cancer and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.” There are a number of entries discussing the various health benefits of tea here at EatingFabulous, too!
9. Soups: “Just a cup can sneak more antioxidant-packed vegetables into your diet.” Oh, and yes, chicken soup does wonders, indeed!

C’mon, these are items that are already part of your regime, aren’t they? So it’s not like you’re going to have a need a major diet revision to fulfill that New Year’s resolution. The key, I guess, is simply to eat in moderation. And these are just 9. Trust me, there’s more!

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POSTED IN: Healthy Beverages, Healthy Eating, ~Anti-Inflammatory, ~Cancer, ~Cardiovascular Health, ~Healthy Aging, ~Healthy Snacks, ~Nuts, ~Root Crops, ~Skin Health, ~Vision and Eye Health