You probably include some superfoods in your meals already, but there may be room for improvement. Superfoods are nutrient-dense, whole foods packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that support overall health, reduce disease risk, and boost energy. While technically a marketing term rather than a medical definition, incorporating foods like berries, leafy greens, nuts, and salmon provides significant health benefits. Here are 10 superfoods identified in a 2022 article on the Harvard Medical School Health Publishing website:
Berries. High in fiber, berries are naturally sweet, and their rich colors mean they are high in antioxidants and disease-fighting nutrients.
Fish. Fish can be a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent heart disease.
Leafy greens. Dark, leafy greens are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium, as well as several phytochemicals (chemicals made by plants that have a positive effect on your health). They also add fiber into the diet.
Nuts. Hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans — nuts are a good source of plant protein. They also contain monounsaturated fats, which may be a factor in reducing the risk of heart disease.
Olive oil. Olive oil is a good source of vitamin E, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fatty acids, all which help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Whole grains. A good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, whole grains also contain several B vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. They have been shown to lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease and diabetes.
Yogurt. A good source of calcium and protein, yogurt also contains live cultures called probiotics. These “good bacteria” can protect the body from other, more harmful bacteria.
Cruciferous vegetables. These include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, and turnips. They are an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals including indoles, thiocyanates, and nitriles, which may prevent against some types of cancer.
Legumes. This broad category includes kidney, black, red, and garbanzo beans, as well as soybeans and peas. Legumes are an excellent source of fiber, folate, and plant-based protein. Studies show they can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Tomatoes. These are high in vitamin C and lycopene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
I used to think that discipline meant giving up things, doing hard, painful, unpleasant things (“no pain, no gain”), never failing to keep a resolution. In other words, doing things that I am incapable of doing long term. It took me a long time to realize the power of small changes, small actions, pleasant (or at least do-able) actions that can become good habits. I’ve learned to accept a lapse in a habit as something temporary that can be corrected next time around, like tomorrow, not a whip that I should use to flagellate myself for being a loser. Not all small actions turn into habits, but some do, and now, after 6 years of moving toward better eating, healthier patterns of rest, movement, and dealing with mental clutter, I can feel some tangible benefits.
Here are some food-related changes that can move you in the direction of better health.
You probably include some superfoods in your meals already, but there may be room for improvement. Superfoods are nutrient-dense, whole foods packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that support overall health, reduce disease risk, and boost energy.
I used to think that discipline meant giving up things, doing hard, painful, unpleasant things (“no pain, no gain”), never failing to keep a resolution. In other words, doing things that I am incapable of doing long term. It took me a long time to realize the power of small changes, small actions, pleasant (or…
No time for breakfast? Start your day with a delicious nutrient-loaded smoothie. If your mornings are rushed, make it the night before. You’re off to a good start, no matter what happens during the rest of the day. No recipe needed. You can throw in what you like, what you need, what you want, what…
No time for breakfast? Start your day with a delicious nutrient-loaded smoothie. If your mornings are rushed, make it the night before. You’re off to a good start, no matter what happens during the rest of the day. No recipe needed. You can throw in what you like, what you need, what you want, what you have on hand. Here are a few ideas to start you thinking.
Suggested Ingredients
Leafy Greens: Spinach and kale are common, providing vitamins with a mild taste that is easy to hide.
Berries & Fruits: Blueberries (high in antioxidants), acai, mango, banana (for creaminess), and lemon (for cleansing).
Seeds & Nuts: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds add Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
What time of day is better for taking supplements? For many, there are no hard and fast rules, but for a few the time of day makes a difference. Most are best absorbed with a meal, but there are some exceptions.
Vitamin B12 was discovered as a result of studies related to pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disorder in which the blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells. The ability to absorb the vitamin declines with age, especially in people over 60 years old. The diets of vegetarians and vegans may not provide sufficient B12 unless a dietary supplement is consumed. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include limb neuropathy, tiredness, weakness, lightheadedness, headache, breathlessness, loss of appetite, pins and needles sensations, changes in mobility, severe joint pain, muscle weakness, memory problems, decreased level of consciousness, brain fog, and others. These symptoms have been observed in individuals with B12 levels only slightly lower than normal.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, one of the main building blocks for strong bones and preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also needed for muscles to move and for nerves to carry messages between the brain and the body. The immune system needs Vitamin D to fight off invading bacteria and viruses. The two forms of vitamin D in supplements are D2 and D3. Both forms increase vitamin D in the blood, but D3 might raise it higher and for longer than D2. Because vitamin D is fat-soluble, it is best absorbed when taken with a meal or snack that includes some fat.
For sleep: Take magnesium supplements 30 minutes before bed to help you relax and sleep better. Magnesium can help regulate your sleep-wake cycle and reduce muscle tension. Magnesium is essential for maintaining good health and plays a key role in everything from exercise performance to heart health and brain function.
Zinc aids growth, DNA synthesis, and immune function. Zinc may effectively reduce inflammation, boost immune health, reduce risk of age-related diseases, speed wound healing, and improve acne symptoms. Beans, seeds, and nuts are rich in zinc.
Tacos, tacos dorados, flautas, enchiladas, quesadillas, chilaquiles, enfrijoladas, entomatadas, gorditas…all start with the humble corn tortilla.
If you put food in a tortilla, it’s a taco. If you put it in hot oil, it’s a tacodorado. Oh, but if you roll it up before you put it in the oil, it’s a flauta. And if you douse it with guajillochile, it’s an enchilada. Now, if you put cheese in it, it’s a quesadilla. And if you put the salsa and the cheese on the outside, it magically turns into a Swiss enchilada. And when you tear that tortilla into bits, submerge it in oil and then add cheese and chile, it is transformed into chilaquiles. However, if you put it in the frying pan and bathe it in beans, you have enfrijoladas. But if instead of beans you use tomato sauce, you have made them into entomatadas. Gorditas (literally “little fatties”) are fat tortillas filled with meat, beans, or whatever the heck you want.
Tortillas, beans, rice, and chiles are staples in Mexican households and Mexican restaurants all over the world, but people south of the border enjoy many other foods you may not have heard about. Here are a few of them.
Books, videos, magazines, and blogs about plant-based living are so plentiful that they can be overwhelming and confusing. Here are a few that I have found helpful.
When I decided to look for ways to enjoy life without meat, I found myself in a world of strange ingredients, passionate opinions, and confusing factions. I didn’t know the difference between vegan and vegetarian, and I wondered if I could use nutritional yeast to make my bread rise. I had known for a long time that raw fruits and vegetables are more beneficial than cooked, but I was unaware that raw veganism is actually a thing. I believe it’s better to avoid processed foods, but I hadn’t heard of whole food plant based eating (wfpb) nor did I suspect that there were strong opinions about all kinds of non-animal but nevertheless forbidden (depending on which practice you follow) foods. It was insensitive of me, but I had not even considered the implications, contradictions, and possible immorality of wearing leather shoes while vegan. I keep my mind open to information that might result in better health outcomes, end cruelty to animals, and save the planet from climate disaster, but I don’t attach labels to myself or my choices, and I am the only person who decides what I may and may not eat. When it comes to food, informed common sense is my only rule. The benefits of going vegan may be cancelled by the stress of worrying whether some particular culinary fault disqualifies one from membership in a given community of orthodox meat abstainers. I am not a vegan. I am a person who chooses not to eat meat. I am attentive to facts and opinions that may have a significant effect on my health and the health of people I care about. Fruit and Stuff is where I collect, sort, and interpret confusing and contradictory information and opinions related to health, especially on life without meat and on becoming as healthy as I can from eating mostly fruit and stuff!
Fruit & Stuff 
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