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Your
Health...
"Dear friend, I pray that you
may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you,
even as your soul is getting along well." 3 John 1:2
What's in
Your Shopping Cart?
By
Joyce Oldenburg, M.S.
You are what you eat! It helps to know which foods to
eat to get the most potent anti-aging, disease-fighting
punch. Here's some foods to get you started:
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Tomatoes, Salsa, & Tomato Sauce - Lycopene, the pigment
that makes tomatoes red, appears to reduce risk for
cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and macular
degeneration (degeneration
of cells which results in blurred vision).
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Sweet potatoes, Squash, & Carrots - Boost intake of
beta-carotene, which converts to Vitamin A. This
protects skin from sun damage and even reduces
wrinkling, as well as reducing the risk of some cancers,
osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease.
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Blueberries & Grapes - Anthocyanins, the chemicals that
give these fruits their deep hue, are absorbed into the
brain's membranes and can improve memory and cognition.
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Avocados & Olives - The monounsaturated fatty acids in
these foods are good for heart health.
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Broccoli - Sulforaphane in broccoli increases the
production of enzymes that clear toxins from the body.
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Green Tea - Catechins have a protective effect against
heart disease. In a recent study of post-menopausal
women, green tea was shown to significantly reduce the
risk of breast cancer. The green tea "turned down"
levels of circulating estrogen, which has been
implicated in the development of the disease.
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Ginger, Curry & other spices - Ginger, in particular,
has high antioxidant power and anti-inflammatory
properties.
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Oatmeal, Barley, & Beans - Soluble fiber lowers levels
of LDL (the bad) cholesterol.
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Spinach, Kale, & Collard Greens - For every daily
serving of greens that you eat, you drop your risk of
heart disease by 11%. Eating greens can also help with
your eyesight and age-related macular degeneration.
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Salmon, Tuna, & Sardines - The omega-3 fatty acids keep
your brain sharp and boost heart health.
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Apples - The quercetin, an anti-oxidant in apples, may
protect the brain from the kinds of damage seen in
Alzheimer's and Parkinson diseases.
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Low-fat Dairy Products or Fortified Soy Milk - The
calcium and Vitamin D keeps bones healthy and strong.
Soy has been shown to ease menopausal symptoms.
Isoflavones, components of soy, may also reduce your
risk of osteoporosis.
 Joyce Oldenburg has
an M.S. in Nutrition and is the
Fitness Director of
the Health & Athletic Club in Flower Mound, Texas.
www.healthandathletic.com
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