Are you eating your Superfruits?

Superfruits are known to have amazing health benefits because of their high nutritional content, their antioxidant value, or their ability to prevent certain medical conditions.  Because of this, it is highly recommended that everyone try to incorporate these fruits into their diets whenever possible. Not every fruit qualifies. Only those deemed "super" by nutrition scientists are packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients that can help you live longer, look better and even prevent disease.  Some popular super fruits include:

Apples    
Surprise, Surprise!  Yes an apple a day does keep the Dr. Away!  Apples are a great fiber source, but the skin contains quercetin, an antioxidant that packs antihistamine and anti-inflammatory power, and therefore may help protect you from heart disease and possibly allergic reactions.

Avocados

You bet, that this is a Superfruit (remember, fruits have seeds, vegetables don't). Packed with monounsaturated fat and fatty acids, avocados can help lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels while raising the amount of good cholesterol in your body. The healthy fats in avocados also promote the absorption of other carotenoids -- especially beta-carotene and lycopene -- which are essential for heart health.

Blueberries
Researchers have found that Blueberries are known to be an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese, and at the same time, contain very high levels of antioxidants. Because of several studies that link blueberries to improved brain function, they are also believed to be highly beneficial in the fight against Alzheimer's. Also Blueberries are a great source of vitamin E and an excellent source of dietary fiber.

Bananas
Stop monkeying around and get serious about Bananas!  Ever grab a snack but then feel hungry again 20 minutes later? Next time, reach for a banana. This Superfruit is loaded with potassium, which can lower your blood pressure.  A banana is one of the best sources of Resistant Starch, which is a healthy carb that fills you up and helps to boost your metabolism.


Cranberries
Cranberries have vitamin C and fiber, and are only 45 calories per cup. In disease-fighting antioxidants, cranberries outrank nearly every fruit and vegetable with the exception of Blueberries.
These tart little berries are Superfruits, but especially for women. They may prevent urinary-tract infections, and might help fight a far scarier disease: ovarian cancer.


Pomegranates
They are known to be high in vitamin C, vitamin B5, and potassium and have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicines. This superfruit is believed to combat such ailments as Alzheimerís and other neurodegeneration, heart disease, eye strain, and diabetes.

There are many other super fruits available that you can choose from.   Each one contains a wide range of vitamins and nutrients. To reap the most benefits it is important to include a variety of these Superfruits in your regular diet.

Sources

Web MD - http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/cranberries-year-round-superfood

American Nutrition - http://www.americannutrition.com/store/superfruits_blueberry.html      http://www.americannutrition.com/store/superfruits_blueberry.html

Huffington Post - http://www.americannutrition.com/store/superfruits_blueberry.html

Are You Toxic?

Do you have frequent headaches? Bloated? Suffer from allergies? Your skin breaking out or look dull? Do you have unexplained weight gain? Do your joints and muscles often ache? Mood swings? Issues with your blood pressure or cholesterol? Always feel fatigued?  Do you have indigestion?

If you said yes to three or more of the these symptoms, you may be!

Over time, this “toxic burden” can lead to bigger problems, like obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and even neurological disorders.

Well, we take in toxins through 3 avenues: our environment, or the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we put on our skin, our largest organ!

A toxin is anything the body doesn’t see as beneficial, and doesn’t use as fuel. Think of yourself as a bathtub. The toxins are the water pouring in from the spout, and the drain is your elimination system (liver, kidneys, and intestines).  When the spout has toxins rushing in at a rate quicker than the drain can handle…they spill over into our vital organs, and into adipose tissue or FAT!

What Can We do?

Slow down that water spout of toxin influx by looking at the food you eat, and the products you use. These products are absorbing into your blood stream every day!

·      Eat clean. Don’t choose “low fat” food labels, eat real food, cage free eggs, organic produce, grass fed beef, lean proteins

·      Remove allergenic foods. For most people these are: Gluten, soy, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, sugar

·      Increase your nutrient intake. More anti oxidants, more low sugar type fruits like green apples and berries, and more super foods like beets, yams, and greens!

·      Support your elimination organs…milk thistle, dandelion are great to flush liver…flush your kidneys and intestine too. Drink 64 oz at least of water every day

·      Look at the labels on products! Mineral oil, parabens, sodium laurel sulfate or SLS, are Red Flags!

Be kind to your body, it’s the only one you have! 

Did You Know!

The statement, "you are what you eat", may be a little off...in fact, we are what we absorb. 

Nutritional supplements can help promote:

Immune health

Eye health

Bone health

Healthy skin hair and nails

Energy, vitality and longevity

• Vitamin A contributes to maintenance of normal vision
• Thiamin contributes to the maintenance of normal vision
• Vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation
• Vitamin C contributes to the protection of Free radicals and helps collagen formation
• Vitamin E contributes to the support of normal immune system function
• Calcium and Vitamin D contribute to healthy bones
• Lutein helps support eye health
• Magnesium helps transport calcium to the bones, helps drive 300 biochemical processes in the body, and is involved in energy metabolism and recovery to the muscles
• Recent studies found that daily supplements may help support bone health in people by 72%
• The American heart association recommends everyone increase their omega -3 intake 
• A good diet should have 25-30 grams of fiber every day. This helps prevent breast and colon cancer.

The absorption of supplements is based upon whether or not they are non gmo, botanically based, and and in their purest form, without added preservatives, dyes, etc. 

Do your research before purchasing!