The Five Healthiest Foods Pt 2
The Top Five Healthiest Foods (Part Two) There are so many nutritious foods but some deserve an honorable mention. Berries of all forms be they strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blueberries or blackberries are some of the most nutritious of all fruits. Berries are full of vitamin C, fiber, folate as well as phytonutrients Berries are excellent cancer fighting agents and are full of antioxidants. Blueberries for example are believed to be higher in their antioxidant properties than are strawberries and they are useful in helping people as they age as short-term memory loss is lessened thanks to consuming plenty of blueberries. Berries are very simple fruits to prepare- all you need to do is wash them thoroughly and either cut them up or eat them as is. Berries do not require peeling like other fruits such as oranges or peaches do. Eat berries on their own or in a dessert such as strawberry shortcake. Whole grains are full of B vitamins, as well as vitamin E, fiber, magnesium and iron. Whole grains are also very rich in antioxidants and contain some that are not found in fruits or vegetables. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans it is recommended that eat plenty of grains on a daily basis and half of all grains eaten should be whole grains, which works out to be three to five servings of whole grains on a regular basis. Always use whole-wheat flour when you bake as opposed to white flour. White flour is refined and is very bad for the body. When you buy such foods as breads, pasta, biscuits and cereal always look for the word whole on the packaging. Another way to add whole grains to your diet is to eat more brown rice, wild rice, barley or quinoa. Try experimenting with different ways to add these wholegrain products to recipes, such as adding barley or quinoa to soups and casseroles. Apples did not make the list of the top five healthy list but if there were a list of the top ten healthy foods this fruit would definitely be on it.
Apples are rich in vitamin C, which, besides its many benefits, is instrumental in aiding the body in absorbing other types of nutrients such as folate and iron. Apples contain a substance called pectin and pectin is similar to fiber in that it helps to decrease cholesterol and glucose in the blood. Wheat germ is the heart of the wheat seed and it is filled with nutrients.
Wheat germ is not the tastiest food in the world so it is best to sprinkle it on cereal, porridge or yogurt. Wheat germ can also be added to batter when you are baking cookies, muffins, biscuits or pancakes. Wheat germ is rich in folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, thiamine and zinc. Two tablespoons a day is enough to optimize its health benefits.
Thiamine is particularly beneficial for the proper functioning of the nerves while phosphorous encourages the development of strong teeth and bones. Iron, folate magnesium and zinc are all minerals that support healing in the body and are essential fro the growth of children. New Food Cures
09/04/2008
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