By Teresa Hall
It’s important to note that “superfoods,” although healthful, are good for you only in the overall context of a balanced healthy diet.
No single food, no matter how healthy, will give you all of the essential nutrients that your body needs. In fact, ongoing nutrition research has provided us with numerous healthy foods to choose from. The key is to say “yes” to these foods and “no” to less healthier choices.
The typical American diet is low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and high in saturated and trans fats, salt and sugar. It’s okay to occasionally indulge, as long as the majority of your choices are healthy. Additionally, it’s true that these “superfoods” may add years to your life by decreasing your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain types cancer.
However, it’s also important to note that by eating healthy foods such as these and others, and by incorporating regular physical activity (approximately 30 minutes of moderate activity per day), you can also add life to your years.
at Nautilus Sport and Fitness Center
and Adjunct Assistant Professor
at Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
Disclaimer:
The information included in this article is meant to inform only. Always consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.
By Krista Lowrey
No list of superfoods would be complete without the inclusion of fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon for their content of omega-3 fatty acids. “All fish contain beneficial amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Tilapia and halibut have less of a fishy taste and they’re also lower in saturated fat,” says trainer Blake Burleson.
The American Heart Association recommends that men and women alike eat fatty fish at least two times a week. Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower triglyceride, or blood fat, levels and therefore benefit the heart of healthy people and those at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been linked to healthy brain function and may assist in the prevention of Alzheimer’s. “Omega-3 fatty acids are so important you need to somehow get them in your body. If you don’t like fish,” Burleson suggested, “you can also get them from extra virgin olive oil. Or if nothing else, take a fish oil supplement.”
