Superfoods: what they are, how they help

[ftangel]

There's been a lot of buzz lately about "superfoods," foods that pack an extra nutritional punch. Superfoods tend to be rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Adding more of these foods to your diet is a good choice for several reasons: they're often low-calorie, you may avoid or improve upon such conditions as cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol, and you'll enhance your digestive system.

There are many superfood lists out there; the list below includes five commonly recommended superfoods.

* Apples: An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? The old advice holds true today. Apples contain fiber that improves digestion and helps to reduce cholesterol; apples are also packed with vitamin C, a potent antioxidant.
* Berries: Blueberries have been touted as antidotes to everything from memory loss to cancer. Blueberries are a great source of fiber and antioxidants, including vitamin C.
* Nuts: Although nuts contain quite a bit of fat, it's the good fat that helps lower cholesterol. Nuts are also full of protein and fiber. Almonds also provide plenty of vitamin E and calcium.
* Salmon: Eating salmon regularly is an easy way to get the omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to improve heart health and blood circulation.
* Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are low in calories and high in beta-carotene, fiber, and many vitamins, and make a great alternative to regular baked potatoes.

Author: Marlene Veloso

[papitohead]

Very good thread FTAngel. I also would like to suggest Psyllium seeds (about a table spoon with a glass of water) twice a day to keep your tracks cleaned, Turmeric added to your foods for seasoning which is very antioxidant and believe to lower inflammations, thus, cancer preventive food. Add to this your daily vitamins C and E and depending of your needs, add yourself. Don't forget the need for selenium!!! Good Health :)

[ftangel]

I do agree with the turmeric.It is an antiseptic and anti inflammatory.we indians use it in every dish.very good for health.i would try the other recommendations.It is never a harm to try herbals.Thanks papitohead.

[Costactc]

When I lived in Europe for eight years, I'd see men in their eighties who smoked and drank everyday. What could be the secret.? The Mediterranean diet of fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, legumes and most of all olive oil.
I'm lucky to have it sent to me once a year from the village in Greece.

[js3811]

c/p
Indeed, turmeric is widely used as a food coloring, as well as being a popular flavoring agent for curries and other South Asian dishes. However, it also has a long history as a medicinal plant, having been used in both Ayurvedic (a form of medical practice native to the Indian subcontinent) and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Turmeric is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory, particularly for digestive disorders and to promote liver health through the stimulation of bile production. It has been used to treat certain skin diseases, and is also believed to be effective in improving the function of the gallbladder. More generally, turmeric has shown itself to be useful in fighting infection and reducing inflammation. Turmeric contains high amounts of antioxidants, which are thought to reduce the body’s risk of cancer.

Turmeric has been used to treat a variety of ailments. Those versed in traditional Chinese healing methods recommend turmeric for the relief of chest pains, and localized pain in the stomach, abdomen and the liver, as well as for nosebleeds and heatstroke. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine advocate turmeric as a means of curing or relieving general inflammation, conjunctivitis, itching and skin ulcers, colic, constipation, flatulence, and parasites such as ringworms.

Taken internally, turmeric is used to treat headaches, diarrhea, flatulence, colds and fevers, edema, bronchitis, leprosy, colic, kidney inflammation and cystitis. Externally applied, it is thought to help bruising, eye infections, inflammation of the oral mucosa, skin conditions, and infected wounds.

Turmeric (in combination with vitamin D) helps fight Alzheimer’s disease and obesity (by suppressing growth of fatty tissue) and is soothing to skin burned by radiation therapy. And those are just some of the newer reports. Researchers have been examining the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, made from the roots of a plant in the ginger family (Curcuma longa), for many years.

Powerful anti-inflammatory components safely reduce the pain and swelling of arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis and tendonitis.
Anti-inflammatory benefits also extend to gastrointestinal (GI) problems, such as gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
Potent antioxidants help squelch unstable oxygen molecules that can otherwise run amok, damaging cells and opening the door to dangerous diseases, such as cancer. Curcumin, an active compound of turmeric, has been shown to modify more than 250 oncogenes and processes that trigger cancer tumorigenesis, proliferation and metastasis.
Turmeric helps curb excessive immune responses that characterize conditions such as allergies, asthma and possibly even multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, where (in animal studies) curcumin appears to inhibit development of amyloid plaques.
Studies suggest a still wider range of healing benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, preventing atherosclerosis and protecting the liver against chemicals and viral damage.
TURMERIC OR CURCUMIN?

Don’t confuse turmeric with its most well-known active compound, curcumin. Turmeric contains a variety of inflammation-fighting compounds known as curcuminoids -- the most widely known and extensively studied of which is curcumin. Importantly, large doses of curcumin can cause gastric upset, while the herb turmeric contains a number of active ingredients that combine to have a gastro-protective effect.

hxxp://www.nutritional-supplement-educational-centre.com/turmeric-benefits.html

Take care.

[Hunter11]

I have a friend that turned 94 this summer, he is doing great. Everyday he has a small green salad with a little virgin olive oil. He also eats a couple of pieces of fruit every day. He also had 1 shot of whiskey until recently when he got a prescription that reacted with alcohol and was warned against mixing the 2. Yes he chose the prescription.lol.