Super Foods

One of the most important things you can do to "join the club" is to bring as many super foods into your daily diet as possible. And there are plenty to choose from. Avocados, broccoli, Quinoa, ......and more!

4 Reasons to Eat Quinoa
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah), originally from the South American Andes and virtually unknown in the U.S. a few years ago, is gaining popularity rapidly, and it's no wonder. Considered a "super food," this relative of beets, spinach and Swiss chard has seeds that resemble a whole grain, and that are prepared and eaten in much the same way. Available in light brown, red and even black varieties, quinoa is light yet filling and has a mellow flavor. So what makes it so nutritious? Quinoa is:

1. High in magnesium - magnesium helps relax blood vessels, which may result in fewer headaches for migraine sufferers and decreased risk of hypertension and stroke.

2. A good source of manganese, iron, copper, phosphorous, vitamin B2 and other essential minerals.

3. An excellent vegetarian protein source, featuring the highest protein content of any grain (it is especially high in lysine, an amino acid that is typically low in other grains). Quinoa's protein is complete, containing all nine essential amino acids - a rarity in the plant kingdom.

4. Gluten free and easy to digest. Once available only in health food stores, quinoa is becoming more mainstream by the day and is easily found in major grocery stores as well.

Why Avocados?
It's no secret that they are one of the most nutrient dense foods. Not only are avocados are high in fiber but they also high in folate, potassium, vitamin E and magnesium. The Hass variety contain a healthy amount of monounsaturated oil (18 to 30 percent oil in each avocado). While the light green Florida avocado is larger and juicier than the Hass variety, but does not have the buttery flavor some love about the Hass. But the light green Florida is considerably lower in oil ( 3 to 5 percent oil) and has roughly 25 to 50 percent less fat than the Hass variety.

Fat has become public enemy number one. But truth is we could not survive without fat, we just need to choose our fats wisely and the monounsaturated fat in the avocado makes it a great choice. Olives also have a comparable amount of monounsaturated fat. Both are a good choice if you are struggling with your cholesterol numbers due to the fact that the oleic acid monounsaturated fat helps lower cholesterol. Some studies show that after only a brief period on a diet that included avocados both total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol were decreased while increasing the “good” HDL cholesterol and lowering triglycerides.

There have been claims that the glutathione contained in avocados has been found to help prevent some kinds of cancers. Some research has found that extracts from Hass avocados kill or stop the growth of pre-cancerous cells that lead to oral cancer. Avocado extract was found to inhibit prostate cancer.