Healthy Super Foods

Most of us assume that all the good-tasting foods are not actually good for us.  This isn’t always true.  There are several foods that can do great things for our bodies and taste delicious. 

Cheese is great for heart health.  Too many people think this high fat dairy product contribute to heart disease.  In reality, eating just one ounce a day can cut your risk by more than 10%.  Cheese contains conjugated linoleic acid, a healthy fat that works to prevent fatty deposits in arteries and stops them from hardening.  Hard cheeses are also great for a beautiful smile.  Eating hard cheese after a carb-rich meal will help to “scrub” off the acids that cause tooth decay.  Plus the calcium helps to keep teeth hard.

Pizza is a tasty way to protect against cancer.  Just two slices of cheese pizza a week can reduces your risk of mouth cancer by 33%, colon cancer by 25% and esophageal cancer by 60%.  The key is in the sauce.  Tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene which destroys cancer-causeing free radicals.  The fat in the cheese helps your body to activate the lycopene.  Pizza is also great for reducing cholesterol. 

Peanut butter is a healthy way to prevent gallstones.  Just five ounces a week cna cut your risk by 25%.  Peanut butter’s natural compounds help cut cholesterol to stop gallstones from forming.  Many people avoid peanut butter because of the high fat content but it can actually help you lose weight by curbing your appetite and making you feel full longer.

Popcorn is a tasty, crunchy snack that can help to avoid diabetes.  It is a whole grain so it helps to keep your blood sugar and insulin levels steady. 

Dark chocolate is a treat that we don’t indulge in often enough.  People who eat dark chocolate are much more content than those who avoid it.  It lifts your mood by releasing a compound called phenethylamine to raise dopamine in your brain.  It is also loaded with tryptophan which is converted to serotonin to make you feel more at ease. 

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the United States and studies show that enjoying it in moderation can actually be good for you.  The antioxidants in beer help to protect your eyes against cataracts.  The darker the brew, the better it is for you. 

*Remember each of these foods should be enjoyed in moderation, that is really the key to good health.