Archive | August, 2009

Cocoa Beans Are the Super Food of the Future

4621691882 58758186a3 m Cocoa Beans Are The Super Food Of The Future

Super foods are defined as food items that can ward off diseases like cancer, heart ailments, cholesterol, and a whole list of others. These foods have high phytonutrient content that can only be good for your health. Any food containing significant amounts of vitamins, antioxidants, dietary fibers, minerals, and enzymes can be regarded as a super food.
Among the most common foods that made it to the famed list of super foods are blueberries, bee pollen, aloe vera, salmon, spinach, oats, walnut, apples, and yogurt. There a lot of other fruits, vegetables, and natural food items that made it to the list. Enumerating them all can be very lengthy.

But what’s more interesting to note is the fact that cocoa beans are deemed to be included in it anytime in the future. Pure organic cocoa bean is definitely the next super food. However, cocoa beans cannot be eaten raw. They have to be duly processed and added as an ingredient to food before they can be administered to the body. The most common end products of cocoa beans are chocolates and chocolate beverages.
Yes, chocolates can be good for you too. While chocolates are always referred to as the sugary food that can make you fat and unhealthy, there’s a certain chocolate variant that can keep you in the pink of health at all times dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is one of the superstars when it comes to the food items being hailed as the next super foods. Dark chocolate are made out of pure cocoa beans with minimal to no sugar added. Cocoa beans are very rich in antioxidants. As such, a bar of dark chocolate can provide your body with a good level of protection against free radicals.
Furthermore, dark chocolates made from choice cocoa beans contain micronutrients that can help lower down blood pressure and keep the heart healthy. However, you should not go overboard eating dark chocolates. While it is good for the body, consuming too much may lead to certain undesirable effects.
A small bar or a chunk of dark chocolate should be sufficient to do wonders to your health. All super foods have to eaten in the right amounts in order to reap its goodness. This is especially true with chocolates because it could contain high amounts of calories in every bar. This is why you should eat them in moderation.
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids which are a type of antioxidant also found in teas. Flavonoids can keep the arteries of the heart from clogging. However, it is the cocoa that is really doing wonders for your body and not the dark chocolate as a whole. Therefore, if you are going to buy such an item from the store, make sure that you read the label first. Look for the brand that contains more cocoa solids inside the pack. You might also want to buy the one that contains walnuts. Walnuts are yet another super food items that you want to feed your body with.

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7 Super Foods You Should Be Eating

3283781820 bb2e461f72 m 7 Super Foods You Should be Eating

There are actually many “super foods”.

Foods that are super nutritious, low in calories, improve your overall health and help you succeed with your weight loss plan.

The next time you’re at the market, stock up on these…

Cabbage

This vegetable is a heavy component in Asian cooking and has tons of nutrients. It contains a chemical that increases your body’s creation of enzymes that combat damaging free radicals and can reduce your risk of cancer.

One cup of cabbage has just 72 calories, making it a fiber rich, health food that won’t expand your waistline. One easy way to incorporate cabbage into your diet is to add it to sandwiches and salads, replacing iceberg lettuce.

Swiss Chard

Another leafy green, this slightly salty, slightly bitter vegetable comes from the Mediterranean. Swiss chard provides lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect retinas from becoming damaged.

The more lutein and zeaxanthin you consume, the more protected your eyes will be. You can easily prepare chard in a saut?an or wok, adding garlic for flavor.

Guava

High in potassium, this obscure fruit is native to the tropics. A guava actually has 63 percent more potassium than one medium size banana. It’s also high in fiber, with nearly 9 grams of fiber to each cup of guava.

This super food is easy to prepare, you just eat it ‘ the entire fruit is edible. Not every grocer will carry guava, so try higher end grocery stores or markets that cater to the Latin population.

Cinnamon

This is a yummy spice that can be added to your diet in a variety of ways. You can sprinkle a little on top of your low fat latte, add it to your cereal, or oatmeal.

Cinnamon actually helps to control blood sugar, and helps your cells to metabolize sugar. Adults with type-2 diabetes, who consumed an average of teaspoon of cinnamon each day for 6 weeks, experienced a decrease in their blood sugar and their cholesterol, making cinnamon a super healthy addition to your diet.

Pomegranate Juice

This juice has actually been linked to decreasing blood pressure. It is high in Vitamin C and because it’s a powerful juice, you don’t need much. Look for brands that offer no added sugar.

Pumpkin Seeds

You don’t have to wait for Halloween to enjoy these yummy treats. Eat them shells and all. They are high in magnesium and low in calories, offering a healthy form of fiber. You can find them at the market, close to other nuts and seeds.

Prunes

They aren’t just for old people. Prunes are actually dried plums and in recent years have been marketed as such. They are extremely high in antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and reduce your risk of some cancers.

These super foods can easily be incorporated into your weight loss program without sacrificing your calorie conscious ways.

So take a few extra laps around the market next time and throw some of these into your basket for better health!

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