Functional Super Foods for Optimal Health
Ranked #4,252 in Healthy Living, #80,255 overall | Donates to Save the Children, Women's Peace Campaign
Optimize Your Health with Functional Super Foods
What Are Functional Foods?
Functional foods are super foods that provide health benefits beyond just basic nutrition. Functional foods do more than just provide nutrients - they may play a role in reducing your risk of disease or in improving your overall health.
These foods include health-promoting ingredients or natural components found in conventional foods, fortified, enriched or enhanced foods.
What's the best way to incorporate functional foods into your diet?
The most effective way to reap the benefits of functional foods is to eat a balanced diet based on the five food groups. Then, include specific foods with beneficial components to meet your individual needs.
1. Get into the habit of reading health claims and food labels on food products, and scanning articles on the connection between foods and health. Practice healthy skepticism, however.
2. Consult with your health care provider before making any drastic changes in your diet, or if you have a particular health concern.
3. Choose a variety of foods from each food group (milk, meats and beans, fruits, vegetables and grains) to incorporate many potentially beneficial components into your diet.
4. Remember that there is no "magic bullet" that will guarantee health or cure or prevent all your health concerns.
Source: www.mealsmatter.org
Functional foods are super foods that provide health benefits beyond just basic nutrition. Functional foods do more than just provide nutrients - they may play a role in reducing your risk of disease or in improving your overall health.
These foods include health-promoting ingredients or natural components found in conventional foods, fortified, enriched or enhanced foods.
What's the best way to incorporate functional foods into your diet?
The most effective way to reap the benefits of functional foods is to eat a balanced diet based on the five food groups. Then, include specific foods with beneficial components to meet your individual needs.
1. Get into the habit of reading health claims and food labels on food products, and scanning articles on the connection between foods and health. Practice healthy skepticism, however.
2. Consult with your health care provider before making any drastic changes in your diet, or if you have a particular health concern.
3. Choose a variety of foods from each food group (milk, meats and beans, fruits, vegetables and grains) to incorporate many potentially beneficial components into your diet.
4. Remember that there is no "magic bullet" that will guarantee health or cure or prevent all your health concerns.
Source: www.mealsmatter.org
Contents at a Glance
Superfoods for Your Heart
Heart Healthy Foods
SuperfoodsSuperfoods for your heart contain multiple nutrients all of which contribute to heart health.
Heart healthy nutrients include fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, magnesium, vitamin C and antioxidants such as carotenoids and anthocyanins. Studies show all these nutrients individually promote heart health. For example, high fiber foods help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Folate decreases homocysteine, an amino acid which, at high levels, can lead to artery damage. Potassium helps maintain normal blood pressure levels, while the antioxidant carotenoid lycopene can help prevent the oxidation of LDL "bad" cholesterol.
A single food containing several of these nutrients all with their own individual heart healthy benefits really is a Superfood for your Heart.
Healing Foods
Brain Food
Foods to Nourish Your Brain
An Intelligent DietBoost your brainpower by feeding your brain "brain foods".
Here are 6 tips for an intelligent diet:
1. Balance your glucose - it provides fuel for your brain. Try to eat carbohydrate foods in the evening, as it promotes relaxation and sleep.
2. Eat essential fats - ensure your diet is rich in omega-3 fats found in oily fish.
3. Include plenty of protein rich foods in your diet. Proteins are essential to make neurotransmitters which are vital for the thinking process. Try to eat a protein based lunch to optimize your mental performance and alertness throughout the day.
4. Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals to 'fine tune' your mind.
5. Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day to keep your brain well hydrated.
6. Oxygenate your brain by exercising and eating little and often. Eat your main meal before 7pm.
Omega 3's
The Miracle Fat
Omega-3Omega-3 fatty acids have been referred to as a miracle fat. The correlation between so many of today's diseases and a deficiency, in the Standard Americans' Diets (SAD) is very strong. From our brain to our heart to our skin, the benefits of Omega-3's are indisputable.
Omega-3 and depression:
Omega-3 fats fight depression by altering the brain's neurotransmitters, increasing serotonin receptors and boosting dopamine levels in the frontal lobes. Dopamine is a substance that basically makes you more excited about life. It has been shown to increase drive and motivation, which is generally lacking in depressed people.
Omega-3 and heart disease:
We know that inflammation plays a major role in causing heart disease.
Animal studies and clinical trials have shown us that Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-6 fatty acids, on the other hand, have been shown to be pro-inflammatory. Just one more reason to avoid eating polyunsaturated oils. Several studies show an inverse association between fish consumption and heart disease. Fish consumption seems to be beneficial, and a systematic review of 11 studies, concluded that fish intake noticeably reduced overall mortality due to heart disease in populations who were at increased risk.
Omega-3 and autoimmune disorders:
There have been a number of clinical trials assessing the benefits of dietary supplementation with fish oils in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches. Many of the placebo-controlled trials of fish oil in chronic inflammatory diseases reveal significant benefits, including decreased disease activity and a lowered use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Sources of Omega-3:
- Wild caught fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring and trout.
- Fish oil supplements
Source: International Food Information Council
Health Benefits of Omega 3's
Superfoods RX
Healthy Food Choices
1
SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life by Steven G. Pratt, Kathy Matthews
The super-bestselling book that's enhancing Americans' health By eating the fourteen SuperFoods highlighted in Dr. Steven Pratt's instant bestseller, you can actually stop the incremental deteriorations that lead to common ailments and diseases- Beans -- reduce obesity
- Blueberries -- lower risk for cardiovascular disease
- Broccoli -- lowers the incidence of cataracts and fights birth defects
- Oats -- reduce the risk of type II diabetes
- Oranges -- prevent strokes
- Pumpkin -- lowers the risk of va...
2
The Superfoods Rx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients by Wendy Bazilian, Steven Pratt, Kathy Matthews
Rather than concentrating on the balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, The SuperFoodsRx Diet utilizes the incredible benefits of micronutrients - vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids, fiber, antioxidants, and other phytochemicals - to burn calories. These powerhouse nutrients found in the 14 SuperFoods actually boost your body's metabolism, and the specific combinations in this plan will give you the best results possible.Based on extensive research and studies with real people, The SuperFood...0 points
3
SuperFoods HealthStyle: Simple Changes to Get the Most Out of Life for the Rest of Your Life by Steven G. Pratt, Kathy Matthews
The 21st-century program for promoting vigor, preventing disease, and extending your lifespan
Don't rely on genetics and luck -- let SuperFoods HealthStyle be your guide to a longer, healthier, better life! Like its bestselling predecessor, SuperFoods Rx, SuperFoods HealthStyle translates the most recent cutting-edge research into simple recommendations that you can use to vastly improve your physical and mental health. And now there are 10 more SuperFoods to add to the original list of 14:
....0 points4
Dr. Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health by Gillian McKeith
In this book, internationally acclaimed clinical nutritionist Dr. Gillian McKeith introduces you to the many health benefits of eating living foods, expecially "raw," enzyme-rich living foods. These unprocessed, whole superfoods-spouts, grains, seeds, sea vegetable, algae, and others-are packed with the vital nutrients our bodies depend on to carry out various physiological functions. The Living Food Program outlined in this book makes it easy to avoid the processed and overly cooked foods that....0 points
5
Nutrition Headlines
- Tomato by-products provide sustainable source of bioactives: Study
- Industrial by-products from tomato processing contain a significant amount of bioactive compounds that could be used to provide natural and sustainable source of antioxidants for functional food formulation, or to act as preservative ingredients in ...
- Got a Health Complaint? There May Be a Chocolate for That
- Functional chocolate offers the best of both worlds. Sinful? Salubrious? Why not have both? The functional food industry is a lucrative one ? including bottled water, margarine, yogurt, breakfast cereal and many other products marketed as having ...
- Chocolate: a health food on Valentine's Day and all year round
- By Traci D Mitchell, today at 7:16 am We've all heard that chocolate has some pretty amazing health benefits, but most of us underestimate just how strong the benefits of this antioxidant-packed sensation really are. It turns out that flavonoids, ...
- Natural healthy diets: Foods high in antioxidants
- Foods high in antioxidants can prevent cancer and many chronic diseases. What are antioxidants, and which foods contain them? The term Antioxidant actually refers to several different organic substances. These include vitamins (such as vitamin C, E, ...
The Power of Antioxidants
Fruits and Vegetables Prevent Cancer
What is an antioxidant?According to the National Cancer Institute, "antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals."
Examples of antioxidants. include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C and E, and other substances. Many of these protective antioxidant substances come from fruits and vegetables."
Beta-carotene is found in many fruits and vegetables that are orange in color, including carrots, some green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale are also rich in beta-carotene.
Lutein, best known for its association with healthy eyes, is abundant in green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, and kale.
Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes.
Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables, such as apples, oranges, pineapple, acerola cherries, papaya, carrots, parsley, kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and tomatoes.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant found in green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli.
Source: National Cancer Institute
Cancer Prevention
How Healthy is your Diet?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Thoughts? Suggestions?
submit
-
Reply
-
James-M
Jan 25, 2012 @ 2:02 pm | delete
- This is the first time i hear the concept of "superfood", but after reading through your lens it makes a lot of sense and I can clearly see the benefits of finding and most importantly using foods that holds great health value.
Hip replacement lawyer
-
-
Reply
-
Frecharles
Dec 22, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
- Your posting is quietly written and simply clear as well. Thanks. Will wait for your next post.
depuy hip recall
-
-
Reply
-
Frecharles
Dec 22, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
- Your posting is quietly written and simply clear as well. Thanks. Will wait for your next post.
depuy hip recall
-
-
Reply
-
Vingill
Oct 8, 2011 @ 1:20 pm | delete
- Congratulations on a great food lens
Regarding healthy sweetners - I read this article by Dr. Mercola > articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/08/the-4-best-and-3-worst-sweeteners-to-have-in-your-kitchen.aspx?e_cid=20111008_DNL_art_3
-
-
Reply
-
PninetyxReviews
Sep 7, 2011 @ 2:12 am | delete
- Wow! What a great job you did with this lens. Very informative et useful! Thank you! 5 stars.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
-
- Load More
Links to More Information on Functional Foods
- Functional Foods
- The International Food Information Council communicates science-based information on food safety and nutrition to health and nutrition professionals, educators, journalists, government officials and others providing information to consumers.
- Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
- Office of Dietary Supplements
Donate to Help Fund Food For Everyone!
The Food For Everyone Foundation's mission is to teach and assist families everywhere to grow successful and sustainable vegetable gardens, and really enjoy the experience.
by monarch13
monarch13
"When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease." ~ V.L. Allineare more »
- 128 featured lenses
- Winner of 22 trophies!
- Top lens » Symbols of Love ...
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Diet and Inflammation Diet and Inflammation
- A Healthy Diet and Stress A Healthy Diet and Stress
- Functional Super Foods for Optimal Health Functional Super Foods for Optimal Health
- Synthetic VS. Whole Food Vitamins Synthetic VS. Whole Food Vitamins
- Home Remedies for Good Health Home Remedies for Good Health
- Natural methods of fighting common cold Natural methods of fighting common cold
