"Super" foods and how much importance? (teeth, heart, vitamin)

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

How much importance to place on these snacks that the "super healthy" people at work are always talking about ALL day? Seems to be good evidence for these foods, and combined with exercise seems to be a safe bet. Looks like many of these have some evidence of reducing cancer risk. These people sometimes substitute 2-3 of these items for an entire meal!

1. handful of almonds daily
2. handful of walnuts daily
3. 2 avocados per week
4. blueberries throughout week
5. red raspberries throughout week
6. boiled eggs
7. broccoli
8. spinach leaves
9. garlic and onions
10. tomatoes
11. citrus fruits
12. salmon
13. coffee
14. whole grains

I eat a lot of those foods because I like them; I didn't know they were super foods. Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, I know are supposed to be good for you. I don't like them but I eat them anyway.

But the others make good little snack foods or breakfast foods. Avocado on toast, blueberries--my favorite fruit, make a nice smoothie, I like slivered almonds in a piece of folded over bread for a snack, poached egg for breakfast, spinach leaves I can only get fresh from a sandwich shop but I love their sandwiches, onions and tomatoes are common ingredients. Oooops on #11 - #13. But I do eat whole grain (Ezekiel bread.)

But it seems that there's always some new "magic" food that's supposed to cure us of all ailments. Coconut oil is one. It used to be soy.

[ComeCloser]

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

How much importance to place on these snacks that the "super healthy" people at work are always talking about ALL day? Seems to be good evidence for these foods, and combined with exercise seems to be a safe bet. Looks like many of these have some evidence of reducing cancer risk. These people sometimes substitute 2-3 of these items for an entire meal!

1. handful of almonds daily
2. handful of walnuts daily
3. 2 avocados per week

Essential oils and healthier fats. Easier for your body to digest and assimilate, and also usually contain other nutrition. For what it is worth, butter is a healthier fat than margarine. Your body is designed to digest butter. For more information research essential oils in your diet. Enough nuts to fit in the palm of your hand. I combine walnuts (about 3 halves, and about 4 to 7 almonds per day - raw if possible). Ive heard it said that walnuts and macadamias are healthier than almonds, but any nuts in a storm. lol.

1 handful - what fits in the palm of your hand - of nuts and 1/2 avocado a day are sufficient snacks.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

4. blueberries throughout week
5. red raspberries throughout week

Among other nutritional value, all berries contain flavonoids. Research flavonoids and their benefits.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

6. boiled eggs

Protein - necessary to build and maintain muscle. Filling. Healthier than a fried egg.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

7. broccoli
8. spinach leaves

cabbage etc. among other things, said to help fight cancer.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

9. garlic and onions

Garlic is good for your heart. Onions contain sulfur which is antifungal.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

10. tomatoes

I don't know. I'm guessing lycopene - antioxidant that prevents cancer and reduces risk of heart disease.
They are also a great source of vitamin C. Potassium which is good for blood pressure. Vitamin K - need to help calcium out. Also, is what helps blood coagulate. Also helps vitamin D make healthy blood cells. Vitamin K and Vitamin D and calcium help build bones and keep them strong.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

11. citrus fruits

Among other things, vitamin C. Prevents scurvy lol.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

12. salmon

Fish is said to be a better meat than all the others, and deep sea fish are higher in essential oils. Then you can start arguing about how unhealthy farmed fish is and also wild caught because the ocean is so polluted, and just forget about ANY river fish due to heavy metals in the polluted rivers and streams. Some experts advise to watch how much fish you eat due to mercury alone.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

13. coffee

Supposed to be effective against liver cancer.

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

14. whole grains

Better nutrition than bleached white flour. Sprouted grains (Ezekiel bread) better nutrition than whole grains because live food is healthier than dead food.

The closer to the vine or branch you can get your produce - the more nutritious it is.

Let's not forget coconut oil and meat and milk - antifungal, antimicrobial, essential oil and healthier fat. Your skin and hair will drink it up, they love it!

Grape seed oil, powerful antioxidant. Most of us wont eat grape seeds, so this you need to supplement.

Another thing to monitor and supplement is Vitamin D3. Miracle vitamin - helps prevent inflammation and infection.

Turmeric, another powerful antioxidant. 4000 times more powerful when combined with black or cayenne pepper.

Aspirin is derived from the inner bark of the red willow tree. If you don't have any issues taking it, aspirin is a miracle drug. Anti-inflammatory, fights fever & infection, and nothing better for bone pain. Better for your liver than other analgesics and pain relievers.

How important is all this? It's as important as you make it and can afford it to be.

I doubt anyone who has posted on this thread is a true expert on this massive topic. I have been researching food and diet for the past 30 years and I still learn something new everyday.

You posted a MASSIVE topic in a nutshell version. Google is your friend.

P.S. If you are going to poison your liver with alcohol consumption, and your lungs with tobacco, and live your life in a massively polluted environment, you could argue whether it matters much at all. One train of thought would be, every little bit helps; while another train of thought might be, what's the point?

[greatblueheron]

Originally Posted by ciceropolo

If you are what you eat - I am definitely nuts! Handful of mixed nuts are my favorite at work snack along with popcorn and fruit. I tend to eat lots of fruit / citrus / berries.


I do not consume coffee and I only have eggs scrambled, all the other items on the list I eat regularly to various degrees. Sometimes I will eat 3-4 avocados in a day. I guess my substitute for coffee is dark chocolate and teas of various sorts.

I think guidoLaMotto makes an apt point on adequate versus inadequate to describe diets. One thing I've noticed over the years is - while I try to be as healthy in my nutritional habits as possible, some of my tastes have changed and I think it is related to my body telling me what I need.



An example, I never liked mushrooms or sardines as a child and in my youth. I was totally indifferent to them until after adulthood. Lately I find myself eating them more frequency or in spurts.




Sometimes I think if we have a nutritional deficiency our bodies will get a craving for the appropriate contents from the apt food of choice.

________

[stan4]

Super food is a sales gimmick.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

How much importance to place on these snacks that the "super healthy" people at work are always talking about ALL day? Seems to be good evidence for these foods, and combined with exercise seems to be a safe bet. Looks like many of these have some evidence of reducing cancer risk. These people sometimes substitute 2-3 of these items for an entire meal!

1. handful of almonds daily
2. handful of walnuts daily
3. 2 avocados per week
4. blueberries throughout week
5. red raspberries throughout week
6. boiled eggs
7. broccoli
8. spinach leaves
9. garlic and onions
10. tomatoes
11. citrus fruits
12. salmon
13. coffee
14. whole grains

I don't know anyone who eats like that.

[Mikala43]

Those foods are regularly a part of my diet, but with greater variety. It looks like my shopping list.

[Luckyd609]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

I don't know anyone who eats like that.

Really? Most of the people I know eat those foods regularly. They seem very common to me.

[Luckyd609]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

Those foods are regularly a part of my diet, but with greater variety. It looks like my shopping list.

Me too. I have all of those items in my house right now except the salmon. But I eat salmon about once a week.

[Mikala43]

I don't have salmon or berries, otherwise all that stuff is constantly in the house. I like ahi/white fish and not salmon (so I take fish oil), and berries both cost a fortune here AND suck, so I rarely buy them. But I have some acai in the freezer.

A lot of the list are ingredients that go into recipes.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

I don't know anyone who eats like that.

Well, they eat more foods than just that, but those aren't unusual foods by any means.

I eat all those foods except that I hate fish so I take fish oil. Those foods make up my breakfasts, lunches, and snacks but I also eat meat and potatoes and all sorts of other things too. I'm no model for a perfect diet so I find it kind of funny that I eat all those things several times a week. I mean, who doesn't eat a few slices of tomatoes? Avocados are really popular--almost a fad food lately. Eggs? Almost everyone eats eggs, hard boiled, soft boiled, poached. Spinach I do find hard to get because you have to buy a lot unless your grocery store has it in a salad bar. But I know a sandwich place that uses spinach in the sandwiches. Citrus fruits? Oranges or orange juice? Grapefruit? Not uncommon either.

Usually I find these lists of great foods to be discouraging because I've never even heard of half the stuff, but this list? I've even got a container of fresh raspberries in the fridge! These are common every day foods.