TOP 5 SUPER FOODS

New View of Aging

By now, many of us are familiar with recent scientific research on aging, which suggests that it is at least partially preventable. Healthy cells have no “termination switch” that tells them it’s time to die. Cellular damage and mortality is, in large part, caused by free radicals – free roaming molecules that are missing an electron. When free radicals come in contact with the molecules that comprise our cells, they “steal” an electron, starting a chain reaction that causes instability and ultimately, damage to the cell. The cell is then unable to perform its job correctly, and we see the results of this as aging, ranging from wrinkles and lack of skin tone to eventual breakdown of body systems.

Antioxidants To the Rescue

Antioxidants are super-stable molecules which have the ability to give up an electron when they come in contact with a free radical, yet still remain stable. This breaks the chain reaction of destabilization, and can also repair and reverse the damage already caused to our cells. Fortunately for us, antioxidants are abundant in nature, and occur in a wide variety of foods. We call foods that are rich in antioxidants Super Foods.

Super Foods

One class of antioxidants are called phytochemicals. These are present in many plants, and often are responsible for protecting the plant as well as giving it pigmentation, like the vivid colors found in carrots, berries, and peppers. At present, we know of more than a thousand phytochemicals. In general, it’s safe to say that we can get more of them in our diets simply by increasing our intake of fruits and vegetables.

Top Super Foods

A list of the top 5 super foods would vary, depending on who you’re asking, but here are some that many authorities agree are very beneficial.

1. Red Wine. Let’s start with a fun one! We’ve known for awhile about the benefit of drinking red wine, but only recently have been able to pinpoint the fact that it originates in the grape skin. Grape skin is high in resveratrol, an antibody grapes produce when fighting disease or injury. The most effective way of absorbing resveratrol is directly through the blood vessels in the mouth, a lucky coincidence since many wine-drinkers swish it in their mouths before swallowing. Resveratrol helps to repair cells and stop the oxidation process initiated by free radicals. It also helps you to think better!
2. Acai Berries. These dark reddish-purple berries are produced by a palm tree native to the Amazon. Their pulp contains an astonishingly high concentration of antioxidants, as well as fiber, amino acids, minerals, and Oleic acid, which works with Omega-3, which has a nourishing and regenerative effect on cells.
3. Avocado. Guacamole, anyone? Avocado is one of the most nutrient-dense foods, full of fiber, folate, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin E. They’re also rich in mono-unsaturated oil, a “healthy fat”. A diet that includes avocado can decrease LDL cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
4. Barley. It’s a good source of Niacin, a B vitamin – another antioxidant that helps to prevent cellular damage from free radicals and lowers cholesterol – as well as selenium, tryptophan, copper, manganese and phosphorus. Although it contains gluten, it can be digested far more easily than wheat.
5. Walnuts. Amazingly, eating a handful of walnuts a day will reduce the chances of a heart attack by at least 15% and as much as 51%! It’s a high-fat food, but it’s the good kind of fat, with high levels of Omega-3’s, vitamin E and A, magnesium, copper, biotin, folate, and potassium, not to mention fiber. And if you satisfy your fat craving with a healthy fat, you won’t be as tempted to hit the drive-through for a dose of the bad stuff!

It’s Good To Have Help

Our modern lifestyle subjects us to stresses and environmental toxins undreamed of by our ancestors. Fortunately, we do have help available in the form of these natural super foods.