You are what you eat. Even if you exercise and stay positive every day, you could be subjected to everything from the common cold to heart disease if fast food is a consistent part of your diet. Of course, fresh veggies and fruits are great for your overall health (and waistline) but if you’re going to make the effort to eat fresh food, might as well super power your diet! These super foods are packed with vitamins, minerals and everything you need to fight diseases. Make your meals super with these powerful fruits and vegetables.
Alfalfa Sprouts
When is the last time you enjoyed alfalfa sprouts? Maybe they were on the side of that weird dish you got from that progressive restaurant but other than that, what do these sprouts have to offer your diet? A single cup of alfalfa sprouts has just ten calories, practically no fat and is full of these nifty photochemicals called saponins. Saponins boost your immunity to cancer and even help you to lower high cholesterol. If you want to find use for your alfalfa spouts, besides as a garnish, try adding it to your favorite salad, or sandwich. It is particularly delicious combined with turkey or vegan alternatives to meat.
Apples
An apple a day really can keep the doctor away. Out of any other fruit available, apples hold the number one spot for pectin. Pectin is a soluble fiber, which helps lower high blood pressure, reduces the risk of cholesterol and even helps prevent colon and breast cancer. People living with diabetes can enjoy an easier life when they enjoy a delicious apple. You can eat an apple straight or you can slice it up on a sandwich, or over a salad of field greens, pecans, topped off with a yummy vinaigrette. Or, if you’d let to get some protein along with your apple, slice it up and scoop some peanut butter. The apples possibilities are endless so go ahead and enjoy yourself!
Avocados
Avocados have possibly the best advertising campaign out of any other fruit. They aren’t hard to sell; they have everything going to for them! Just half of a medium-sized avocado has over four grams of fiber and fifteen percent of your daily folate intake. Avocados don’t have cholesterol, they are high in monounsaturated fats (those are good fats), and they are high in potassium. If you want a healthy heart, avocados are the way to go. If you want to enjoy a delicious avocado dish, try using it as a spread on your sandwich, or top your grilled chicken or fish with some avocado chunks and salsa. Try starting the day off right by scooping out the core and replacing it with an egg yolk. Bake for fifteen minutes at 400 and dig in.
Have at least one of these a day and we bet you will spend less time in the doctor’s office. What more could you ask from your meal?
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com
