Power Foods

In the past, mothers used to hold their children down while shoving a spoonful of cod liver oil down the hatch. "You are not leaving this table until every last vegetable is off that plate," you may recall. Liver was much more common back then and milk with breakfast was a given. Today, there are still many foods that health experts agree are essential to optimal body performance and a balanced diet. The big difference is that many of these rations actually taste great, or at the very least, come in supplement form!

For snackers, texture is a big thing. You love the crunch of a potato chip or the way a chocolate chip cookie just sort of melts in your mouth. The good news is that one of the power foods on our list has just the crunch you need to feel satisfied: almonds! Two ounces or 48 of these tasty nuts will give you 50% of your daily magnesium, which ensures heart health, as well as providing vitamin E, fiber and monosaturated fat, which is the good kind. One study last year found that participants who ate 2.5 ounces of almonds per day lowered their cholesterol significantly after just one month! Other studies suggest a link between almonds and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

If you've got a sweet tooth, then you may find that watermelon quenches your need for sugary foods. This juicy "summer day" fruit contains beta-cryptoxanthin, which lowers cholesterol. It also has 20% of your daily vitamin A and vitamin C, in addition to providing you with an absorbable form of lycopene, which lowers heart disease and cancer risks. Similarly, blueberries are another amazing fruit that has been known to boost dopamine levels and your mood, as well as providing an anti-oxidant toxin-removal service and improving memory/coordination functions.

Perhaps you find that warm foods and drinks make you feel naturally happier. Maybe you're a reformed coffee junkie. Instead, why not try a cup of tea? Chai tea is a delicious blend of vanilla, cinnamon and comforting spices. Generally black and green teas are the most doctor-recommended for fighting breast, lung and digestive cancers and heart disease. Additionally, a hot cocoa can provide you with antioxidant flavonoids, which fight heart disease and cancer, will reduce toxins in the blood and improve cholesterol ratios.

With most diets, health experts say that fatty foods and alcohol consumption are big no-no's. You may have to say goodbye to butter, but new research suggests that wine, in moderation, holds benefits for the heart. Red wine is said to be the best, but even white wine contains tyrosol and caffeic acid, which reduces stress, as well as polyphenols. White wine has been specifically linked with improved lung function, while red wine has been linked to everything from lowering LDL cholesterol and lowering blood-clotting agents to inhibiting colon cancer cells and reducing the risk of skin cancer. Danish doctors recommend one glass with dinner weekly or even every evening to give you that magical health boost.

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