| We consume many foods that are not healthful. | | | | toxins from your body. |
| Some of these cause premature aging, illnesses | | | | For people who are plagued with yeast and |
| such as heart disease and diabetes as well as | | | | urinary tract infections yogurt is a good daily |
| obesity. However, there are foods that fight | | | | choice. Plus yogurt contains live cultures that aid in |
| disease, stabilize blood sugar, and boost our | | | | digestion. |
| metabolism. | | | | And go Japanese with soba. Soba noodles are |
| One of these is blueberries. Blueberries are chock | | | | made from buckwheat. Buckwheat is rich in |
| full of antioxidants which fight free radicals in your | | | | bioflavonoids and has been found to lower |
| body. And free radicals are major contributors to | | | | cholesterol levels and blood pressure if eaten |
| diseases such as cancer. | | | | regularly. Buckwheat is also helpful in preventing |
| Another power food is beans. Beans are full of | | | | diabetes as it lowers blood sugar levels. |
| vegetable protein and help stabilize blood sugar. | | | | Another Japanese super food is miso. Miso is a |
| And yes your mother was right. Broccoli, like its | | | | paste made from soybeans and the Japanese |
| cruciferous friends, is good for you. It is high in | | | | make soup from it. Miso is also available in salad |
| fiber and full of carotenoids. High fiber diets are | | | | dressings and marinades. Researchers have |
| highly recommended as a strategy for preventing | | | | discovered that consuming miso soup on a regular |
| colon cancer. | | | | basis prevents breast cancer in women. And |
| And don't forget wild salmon. Salmon is high in | | | | health statistics show that Japanese women have |
| omega-3 fatty acids that lower bad cholesterol | | | | a much lower breast cancer rate than American |
| levels and help raise good cholesterol levels. | | | | women. |
| Although there has been media hype about limiting | | | | Japanese also eat a lot of seaweed. While this |
| fish intake due to the presence of mercury, this | | | | may not sound delectable, seaweed is one of |
| does not refer to wild salmon. The mercury levels | | | | earth's most nutritious foods. It is high in calcium |
| in farmed salmon may be high enough to merit | | | | and high in vegetable protein. It is also packed |
| concern but mercury is not a problem in wild | | | | with antioxidants. |
| salmon. | | | | And for a beverage, consider green tea. Green |
| For those who remember the cartoon character | | | | tea contains flavonoids that relax the blood |
| Popeye, he was right when he said, "Eat lotsa | | | | vessels and permit blood to flow more freely. |
| spinach." Spinach is also high in fiber and rich in | | | | This reduces your risk of high blood pressure. |
| antioxidants. In addition, spinach has a high iron | | | | Another food that relaxes the blood vessels is |
| content. | | | | garlic. If you do not want to eat the required two |
| Oranges and grapefruit are equally important in | | | | cloves of garlic a day, you can take a supplement |
| your diet. These citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. | | | | of garlic extract that will provide the same |
| vitamin C helps ward off infections and boosts | | | | benefits. The recommended dose is 1,200 mg. |
| metabolism. | | | | Not only are these foods beneficial to your overall |
| Tomatoes are also rich in vitamin C. And they are | | | | health they also have weight loss benefits for |
| beneficial to your kidneys as they help flush out | | | | people who need or want to reduce. |