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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

91 Healthiest Foods (Only Veg).




In the fast-paced world of nutrition research, it seems like a hot discovery hits the news every week. So we asked prominent scientists doing groundbreaking work on how edibles stave off illness to pin down the 91 most nutrient-packed foods.  To make our list, a food had to be very rich in at least one vitamin, mineral or other compound known to protect against cancer, heart disease or other diseases.  Be supermarket smart and use this list as your shopping list.  you body will be glad you did!

GLOSSARY OF HEALTHY-FOOD TERMS:
  • ANTHOCYANINS:  Plant pigments that help protect you from heart disease.
  • ANTIOXIDANT:  A substance that prevents harmful molecules called free radicals from damaging DNA.  Free radicals may be a cause of cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases.
  • CAROTENOIDS:  Antioxidant plant pigments that are converted to vitamin A by the body.  There are several types: beta-carotene, a major plant source of vitamin A, which lowers the risk for heart disease and cancer; lutein and zeaxanthin, which are linked to a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss and blindness in older adults; lycopene, linked with a lower risk of heart attack and cancer.
  • CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID:  Beef, lamb and full-fat cheeses are rich in CLA, which halts tumor formation in animals.  
  • ELLAGIC ACID:  A plant compound that detoxifies and traps carcinogens.
  • FAVONOIDS:  Plant compounds that deter cancer in a number of ways.
  • FOLIC ACID:  B vitamin that helps prevent birth defects and lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to heart disease.
  • INDOLES:  Compounds that help fight cancer.
  • ISOFLAVONES:  Compounds that act as weak estrogens (phytoestrogens).  Eating 90 mg of isoflavones daily can improve bone density.
  • ISOTHIOCYANATES:  Compounds, including sulphoraphane, that protect against cancer.
  • LIGNANS:  Phytoestrogens that help prevent cancer.
  • MONOUNSATURATED FAT:  The heart-healthiest type of fat.
  • OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS:  A type of fat that reduces the risk factors for heart disease.
  • ORGANOSULFIDES:  Substances that help lower cholesterol.
  • PHYTOESTROGENS:  Compounds that are structurally similar to human estrogen.  One difference: They do not promote breast and endometrial cancer.  In fact, they help protect against these cancers, while providing many of the same heart-and bone-protective effects as human estrogen.
    THE 91 HEALTHIEST FOODS
    Fruit
    Fat/Calorie Breakdown
    Body Benefits
    (1) Apples
    1 medium apple:
    81 calories, 0 g fat
    An apple's 3 g of fiber help you meet your fiber goal of 20 g to 30 g daily.  High-fiber diets can lower heart disease risk.
    (2) Apricots
    3 apricots:
    51 calories, 0 g fat
    A good source of beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A by the body), providing the equivalent of 35% of the RDA for vitamin A
    (3) Bananas
    1 medium:
    105 calories, 0 g fat
    Bananas are a great source of potassium, which plays a key role in heart health and muscle function.  Plus each one has 2 g of fiber.
    (4) Blackberries
    1 cup:
    74 calories, 0 g fat
    This fruit boasts a whopping 10 g of fiber in a single cup.
    (5) Blueberries
    1 cup:
    81 calories, 0 g fat
    Blueberries help prevent and treat bladder infections by making it hard for bacteria to stick to urinary tract walls.
    (6) Cantaloupe
    1 cup, cubed:
    84 calories, 1 g fat
    An antioxidant double whammy, with 68 mg of vitamin C and enough beta-carotene to cover 65% of your daily vitamin A quota.
    (7) Cherries
    1 cup:
    84 calories, 1 g fat
    A good source of perillyl alcohol, which helps prevent cancer in animals.  Heart-protective anthocyanins give cherries their color.
    (8) Cranberry
    juice
    1 cup:
    144 calories, 0 g fat
    Fights bladder infections the same way blueberries do.
    (9) Grapefruits
    1/2 fruit:
    39 calories, 0 g fat
    A good source of vitamin C and a compound called naringenin, which helps suppress tumors in animals.
    (10) Purple grapes
    and juice
    1 cup seedless:
    113 calories, 9 g fat
    Offer three heart-guarding compounds:  flavonoids, anthocyanins and resveratrol.  (Green grapes are not rich in them)
    (11) Kiwi
    fruit
    1 medium kiwi:
    46 calories, 0 g fat
    Just one little fruit packs a mean vitamin-C punch (74 mg) and an impressive 2.8 g fiber.
    (12) Mangoes
    1 mango:
    135 calories, 1 g fat
    A single mango has enough beta-carotene to cover your RDA for vitamin A while racking up 57 mg of vitamin C.
    (13) Oranges
    1 orange:
    61 calories, 0 g fat
    One orange provides an impressive 50 g to 70 g of vitamin C, 40 mcg of folic acid and 52 mg of calcium.
    (14) Orange
    juice
    1 cup:
    112 calories, 0 g fat
    One of the richest sources of folic acid: A cup provides one-quarter of the 400 mcg RDA for folic acid and boasts 96 mg of vitamin C.
    (15) Calcium-
    enriched orange juice
    1 cup (from concentrate):
    112 calories, 0 g fat
    drinking this beverage is a healthful way to make a 300-350 mg dent in your daily 1500 mg calcium requirement.
    (16) Papayas
    1 cup, cubed:
    55 calories, 0 g fat
    Loaded with vitamin C (86 mg per cup), a healthy dose of fiber (2.5 g) and a sprinkling of beta-carotene and calcium.
    (17) Prunes
    1/3 cup, stewed:
    87 calories, 0 g fat
    Prunes' famed laxative effect is no mystery: There are 5 g of fiber (both soluble and insoluble) in just 1/3 cup.
    (18) Raspberries
    1 cup:
    60 calories, 0 g fat
    Teeming with 8 g of fiber per cup, they also boast vitamin C, ellagic acid and anthocyanins.
    (19) Red
    grapefruit
    1/2 fruit:
    37 calories, 0 g fat
    All the goodies of white grapefruit and more: They provide up to 100% of the RDA for vitamin A and are also high in lycopene.
    (20) Strawberries
    1 cup, sliced:
    50 calories, 0 g fat
    Strawberries have high levels of ellagic acid and anthocyanins, and are rich in vitamin C (95 mg per cup) and fiber (3.8 g per cup).
    Vegetables
    Fat/Calorie Breakdown
    Body Benefits
    (21) Artichokes
    1 medium:
    60 calories, 0 g fat
    In addition to their high fiber content (6 g), artichokes contain a flavonoid that has been shown to reduce skin cancer in animals.
    (22) Arugula
    1 cup:
    5 calories, 0 g fat
    A cruciferous (cabbage family) veggie, this tangy green contains cancer-preventative compounds such as isothiocyanates.
    (23) Avocado
    1/2 avocado:
    170 calories, 13 g fat
    Yes, they're high in fat, but fortunately half of it's the heart-healthy monounsaturated variety.  And they're a good source of vitamin E.
    (24) Beets
    1/2 cup, sliced:
    37 calories, 0 g fat
    Beta-cyanin, which gives beets their reddish-purple color, is a disease-fighting antioxidant.
    (25) Bok choy
    1 cup, cooked:
    20 calories, 0 g fat
    This staple of Chinese cuisine contains isothiocyanates, plus lots of calcium (158 mg per cup) and vitamin C (44 mg per cup).
    (26) Broccoli
    1 cup, cooked:
    44 calories, 0 g fat
    This super food is loaded with sulphoraphane.  Then there's the 72 mg of calcium, 78 mcg of folic acid and all the vitamin C.
    (27) Broccoli
    sprouts
    1/2 cup:
    10 calories, 0 g fat
    As protective as broccoli is, these little sprouts may be even better.  They're sprouting up in health food stores and supermarkets.
    (28) Brussels
    sprouts
    1/2 cup, cooked:
    30 calories, 0 g fat
    Along with good-for-you isothiocyanates and indoles, these vegetables give you an impressive 48 mg of vitamin C.
    (29) Cabbage
    1 cup raw, chopped:
    22 calories, 0 g fat
    The indoles in cabbage help make it a cancer fighter. For a healthy coleslaw, top shredded raw cabbage with low fat dressing.
    (30) Cauliflower
    1 cup, raw:
    24 calories, 0 g fat
    Another great source of indoles; plus it's high in fiber (2.5 g per cup) and vitamin C (72 mg per cup).
    (31) Carrots
    1 medium:
    26 calories, 0 g fat
    A stellar source of beta-carotene.  one carrot contains twice the RDA for vitamin A.  Cooked carrots are even healthier than raw.
    (32) Celery
    2 medium stalks:
    13 calories, 0 g fat
    Celery doesn't get much hype, but it's got the goods - namely phthalides, compounds that lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
    (33) Garlic
    1 clove:
    5 calories, 0 g fat
    Raw, cooked or granulated:  All forms contain cholesterol-fighting organosulfur compounds.
    (34) Green
    beans
    1 cup, cooked:
    43 calories, 0 g fat
    Green beans carry a variety of antioxidant carotenoids, including beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin.
    (35) Green
    pepper
    1 medium:
    32 calories, 0 g fat
    One of the more vitamin C-rich vegetables - 66 mg per pepper - and it's got a little capsaicin, too (see peppers, below).
    (36-39) Greens
    (collard, kale,
    mustard, turnip)
    1 cup, cooked:
    29 to 49 calories,
    0 to 1 g fat
    These greens are packed with disease fighters:  lutein, zeaxanthin, and isothiocyanates and 93 to 226 mg of calcium per cup.
    (40) Onions
    1/2 cup, chopped:
    30 calories, 0 g fat
    They're important suppliers of the same heart-healthy organosulphur compounds that are found in garlic.
    (41) Peas
    1/2 cup, cooked:
    67 calories, 0 g fat
    A good source of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin - both of which help protect against age-related eye disease.
    (42)  Peppers
    (hot)
    1 pepper:
    18 calories, 0 g fat
    Their phytochemical claim to fame is capsaicin, which helps short-circuit the cancer process.
    (43)  Potato
    (white)
    (1) 7 oz. potato:
    220 calories, 0 g fat
    Don't peel it, and you get a generous 5 g of fiber, 43% of the day's vitamin C requirement and a major dose of potassium.
    (44) Pumpkin
    1/2 cup, canned:
    41 calories, 0 g fat
    Gives you three times the RDA for vitamin A and 3/5 g of fiber.  Use canned pumpkin to make pumpkin bread, risotto and soup.
    (45) Radishes
    4 radishes:
    4 calories, 0 g fat
    The beginning of the bite is cool, but soon things get hot; chewing activates the veggies' indoles and isothiocyanates.
    (46) Romaine
    and other dark
    lettuce
    2 cups, shredded:
    18 calories, 0 g fat
    The darker the green, the more carotenoids.  These lettuces are also high in folic acid: There's 40% of the RDA in 2 cups of romaine.
    (47) Peppers,
    red, sweet
    1 pepper:
    32 calories, 0 g fat
    An improved version of the already top-notch green pepper, with twice its vitamin C content and a day's supply of vitamin A.
    (48) Seaweed
    1 cup:
    32 calories, 0 g fat
    Seaweed is carotenoid and calcium-rich and has a delicate taste.
    (49) Spinach
    1 cup, cooked:
    41 calories, 0 g fat
    Offers enough beta-carotene to surpass the RDA for vitamin A, a ton of lutein and more than half the RDA for folic acid.
    (50) Squash
    (winter types,
    butternut)
    1 cup, cooked:
    82 calories, 0 g fat
    Not only does a cup equip you with three day's worth of vitamin A but it fulfills nearly 10% of your daily calcium needs.
    (51) Tomatoes
    1 tomato:
    26 calories, 0 g fat
    Technically considered a fruit, tomatoes are loaded with cancer-fighting lycopene and are great sources of vitamin C.
    (52) Turnips
    1 cup, cooked, cubed:
    32 calories, 0 g fat
    Neglected members of the cruciferous family, turnips provide both indoles and isothiocyanates and 3 g fiber.
    (53) Watercress
    2 cups:
    8 calories, 0 g fat
    One of its compounds detoxifies a major carcinogen in tobacco and as such may help prevent lung cancer.  Also contains carotenoids.
    (54) Yams,
    sweet potatoes
    1/2 cup, mashed:
    103 calories, 0 g fat
    They win the carotenoid prize, with astonishing levels amounting to six times the RDA for vitamin A.
    Tea, Herbs
    and Spices
    Fat/Calorie Breakdown
    Body Benefits
    (55) Chives
    1 tbsp:
    1 calorie, 0 g fat
    A member of  the same family as garlic, chives contain cholesterol-lowering organosulfides.
    (56) Cinnamon
    1/2 tsp:
    3 calories, 0 g fat
    Recent research found that 1/4 tsp to 1 tsp of cinnamon daily improves insulin function and, in turn, blood-sugar control.
    (57) Ginger
    (5) 1 inch slices:
    8 calories, 0 g fat
    Helps quell nausea and may reduce joint inflammation in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
    (58) Horseradish
    1 tsp prepared
    horseradish:
    2 calories, 0 g fat
    Whether it's fresh, jarred or in the sharp green wasabi served with sushi, horseradish is infused with anticancer isothiocyanates.
    (59) Mint
    2 tbsp:
    5 calories, 0 g fat
    Spearmint, the type normally found in the fresh herb section of your grocery, is rich in covone, an antioxidant and anticarcinogen.
    (60) Mustard
    1/2 tsp mustard seed:
    8 calories, 0 g fat
    Both prepared yellow mustard and mustard seed contain health-protective isothiocyanates.
    (61) Parsley
    2 tbsp, chopped:
    3 calories, 0 g fat
    Parsley is a great source of several carotenoids: beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Try it in tabbouleh.
    (62) Rosemary
    1/2 tsp dried or
    1 tsp fresh
    h:1 calorie, 0 g fat
    Test-tube studies found that carnosol, a compound in rosemary, thwarts the action of carcinogens.
    (63) Sage
    1/2 tsp ground:
    1 calorie, 0 g fat
    Contains a variety of monoterpenes, substances that prevent the spread and progression of tumors.
    (64) Tea,
    black or green
    1 cup:
    2 calories, 0 g fat
    Tea (regular and decaf) and its antioxidant catechins are linked to reduced heart-disease risk. Tea may also help inhibit cancer.
    (65) Turmeric
    (used in curry
    spice)
    1/2 tsp:
    4 calories, 0 g fat
    This spice gets its yellow color from compounds called curcumins, which have reduced the size of tumors in animals 50%.
    Beans & Soy
    Fat/Calorie Breakdown
    Body Benefits
    (66) Beans
    (kidney, black,
    navy)
    1 cup, cooked:
    220 to 270 calories,
    0 g fat
    A super rich fiber source, ranging from 6 g to 16 g per cup, depending on the variety.  Also high in iron.
    (67) Soy milk
    1 cup:
    81 calories, 4 g fat
    A cup has 20 mg to 25 mg of health-promoting isoflavones.
    (68) Soy
    protein isolate
    powder
    1 oz:
    95 calories, 1 g fat
    studies show that it takes 25 g of soy protein daily (the amount in just 1 1/4 oz to 3 oz of the powder, depending on the brand) to get a 10% drop in cholesterol.  Try blending it in a smoothie.
    (69) Tofu
    1/2 cup:
    97 calories, 6 g fat
    A rich source of isoflavones.  Studies indicate that 90 mg of isoflavones daily improves bone density; 1/2 cup of tofu has 30 g.
    (70) Textured
    vegetable
    protein
    1/2 cup, rehydrated:
    60 calories, 0 g fat
    This is the stuff that mimics meat in vegetarian chili.  TVP is one of the richest sources of isoflavones, at 40 mg per 1/2 cup.
    Dairy
    Fat/Calorie Breakdown
    Body Benefits
    (71) Cheese
    (full fat)
    1 oz:
    70 to 110 calories,
    6 g to 9 g fat
    One ounce packs 210 mg of calcium and a dose of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).  It's high in saturated fat; eat with low fat foods.
    (72) Skim
    milk
    1 cup:
    90 calories, 0 g fat
    Our calcium lifeline at 300 mg per cup, and one of the few dietary sources of vitamin D, which is vital to calcium metabolism.
    (73) Yogurt
    (plain low fat
    or nonfat)
    1 cup low fat:
    150 calories, 3.5 g fat
    Those friendly bacteria (called probiotics) in yogurt help boost immunity and prevent yeast infections.
    Nuts, Seeds, Oils
    Fat/Calorie Breakdown
    Body Benefits
    (74) Almonds
    1/2 oz (11 nuts):
    83 calories, 7 g fat
    A recent study showed that a daily 3 1/2 oz serving of almonds can lower LDL cholesterol 14%.
    (75) Brazil
    nuts
    1/2 oz (4 to 4 nuts):
    93 calories, 9 g fat
    Just three to four nuts deliver an astronomical 420 mcg of selenium, eight times the recommended daily amount.
    (76) Peanut
    butter
    2 tbsp:
    200 calories, 16 g fat
    Eating five ounces of nuts weekly reduces heart-disease risk. Buy peanut butter without partially hydrogenated oils.
    (77) Sunflower
    seeds
    1/4 cup:
    205 calories, 18 g fat
    One of the richest sources of vitamin E (besides oils), with an impressive 6 IUs in just 1/4 cup.
    (78) Tahini
    1 tbsp:
    89 calories, 8 g fat
    Amazingly, 1 tbsp of the stuff has got 64 mg of calcium, 1.3 mg of iron and nearly one mg of zinc.  And it's a good source of  protein.
    (79) Walnuts
    1 oz (14 halves):
    182 calories, 17 g fat
    Walnuts are exceptionally rich in an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid, which helps protect against heart disease.
    (80) Canola
    oil
    1 tbsp:
    124 calories, 14 g fat
    The only cooking oil that's rich in the two healthiest fats: monounsaturated and omega-3's.  It's a good all-purpose oil.
    (81) Flaxseed
    oil
    1 tbsp:
    124 calories, 14 g fat
    It's rich in the vegetarian form of omega-3 fatty acids.  Mix with balsamic vinegar for a tasty salad dressing.
    (82) Olive
    oil
    1 tbsp:
    120 calories, 14 g fat
    Besides its extremely high monounsaturated fat content, olive oil also contains a heart-healthy compound called squalene.
    Grains
    Fat/Calorie Breakdown
    Body Benefits
    (83) Barley
    1/2 cup, cooked:
    97 calories, 0 g fat
    Barley is a great source of a soluble fiber called beta-glucan (also found in oats, below), which helps lower blood cholesterol.
    (84) Bran
    cereal
    Varies by brand. 1/2 cup:
    80 calories, 1 g fat
    The easiest way to make inroads into that 20 to 30 g fiber recommendation.  These cereals range from 2 g to 9 g of fiber per serving.
    (85) Flaxseed
    1 tbsp seeds:
    60 calories, 4 g fat
    One of the richest sources of health-protective lignans and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids
    (86) Oats and
    oat bran
    1 cup:
    88 calories, 2 g fat
    Studies show that a cup of cooked oat bran or 1 1/2 cups oatmeal daily lowers cholesterol 5%.
    (87) Rye
    crackers
    (1) 4 1/2 x 2 1/2" cracker (.5 oz):
    37 calories, 0 g fat
    Rye crackers are one of the few foods containing rye bran.  The bran has lignans and 2.5 g of fiber per 1/2 oz of crackers.
    (88) Wheat
    germ
    1/4 cup wheat germ:
    103 calories, 4 g fat
    Wheat germ is rich in fiber, provides your daily selenium dose and is one of the few foods rich in vitamin E (7U of E per 1/4 cup).
    (89) Whole
    grains such as
    bulgar
    1 cup, cooked:
    150 to 220 calories,
    0 g to 2 g fat
    Besides the lignans and vitamins, these grains supply complex carbs that mete out a slow, even supply of energy all day long.
    (90) 100%
    whole wheat
    bread
    2 slices:
    138 calories, 2 g fat
    Each slice of 100% whole wheat bread has 1.5 g of fiber, plus other nutrients. Forget regular "wheat" bread.
    (91) Whole
    wheat pasta
    1 cup, cooked:
    174 calories, 1 g fat
    It's got all the nutrients of whole wheat bread, and it's a great source of selenium as well.


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