What Are Super Foods and How Do They Help?

Those of us seeking an easy to swallow weight loss pill may have to look no further than the shelves of our local super market for so called super foods. These are not pills but natural vegetables and fruits that not only taste good but are good for us.

A healthy diet should include a variety of these super foods that reportedly helps you maintain or lose weight, fight a glut of diseases and thereby live longer and happier. Most whole foods are rich in nutrients and relatively low in calories.

They also have large amounts of fiber that fills you up before you intake too many calories. Skim milk is one of the best at filling you up before you fill out. One cup of skim milk contains only 80 calories as compared to 150 in a cup of whole milk. Plus, you get your needed calcium.

Lettuce and tomatoes are filled with nutrients and combine for a healthy salad if you are prudent about the dressing. Lettuce is rife with vitamins A, B and C while tomatoes have these vitamins and lycopene which not only helps you add fiber but may prevent cancer.

Eat half a grapefruit before a meal and lose weight according to many testimonials and it contains less than 40 calories. Other super foods that aid in weight loss include pumpkins that are loaded with fiber and low in calories.

Plus, it's so easy to prepare in a variety of ways. For those of you who can't do without meat, grass fed beef is high in protein and helps you feel full longer decreasing your desire to continue to eat. Remember to combine the super foods weight loss regimen with proper exercise and rest.

Our bodies are only as good as the foods we eat. If we continually ingest unhealthy foods our body will react accordingly. There is now a list of super foods that allegedly help you maintain a healthy body including lower cholesterol, reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. These are real unprocessed foods, not foods laden with fat and calories.

Foods that contain lycopene help fight disease and include tomatoes and things made with tomatoes such as spaghetti sauce and ketchup. Lycopene foods also may enhance blood flow to the heart.

Lutein available in spinach may aid visual performance and other eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Spinach is also rich in vitamins A, C and K essential in good vision and overall health.

If you're attempting to add vitamin C, eat sweet potatoes, broccoli and grapefruit. All citrus fruits are high in C and fiber. Fiber not only aids digestion but improves the absorption of other nutrients.

Cooking the super foods properly decreases little if any of the nutrients. Use canola or extra virgin olive oil and as little water as possible. Throw out the water and you throw out the vitamins. Wild salmon, high in omega 3 fats, is excellent cooked in EVOO.

Antioxidants are even found in some spices, herbs and nuts such as cinnamon, oregano, parsley, basil, walnuts and pecans. Yes, peanut butter also has antioxidants.

Studies have revealed that only 11% of people in the United States meet the proper intake guidelines of fruits and vegetables. Super foods may go a long way toward giving you optimal health as you strive for a combination of proper nutrients, fiber and antioxidants.