From Diminutive Horse, 12 Years ago, written in Plain Text.
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  1.       You've heard of Superfoods, but…Superfruits?
  2. Not every fruit qualifies. Those deemed "super" by
  3. nutrition scientists are packed with antioxidants,
  4. fiber, vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients
  5. that can help you live longer, look better, and
  6. even prevent disease.
  7.  
  8.       Best of all, most are widely available, even
  9. at your local grocery store, promises Keri
  10. Glassman, R.D., founder of NutritiousLifeMeals.com
  11. and author of Slim Calm Sexy Diet. One caveat:
  12. Superfruits are best consumed whole, not
  13. processed. So if possible, try to buy and eat
  14. these fruits fresh. Experts estimate that you
  15. should be eating five to nine portions of fruit or
  16. vegetables a day, and most of them should be
  17. Superfruits.
  18.  
  19.  
  20.  
  21.  
  22.  
  23.  
  24.  
  25.       Blackberries
  26.  
  27.       These tart and tasty gems rank in the top 10
  28. for antioxidant power,
  29.       according to the USDA, and they are
  30. specifically rich in polyphenols, the
  31.       same family of antioxidants found in green
  32. tea, which may help prevent
  33.       cardiovascular disease, cancers, and
  34. osteoporosis. Blackberries are also
  35.       number one for fiber: One cup delivers
  36. one-third of your daily target of 25 to
  37.       35 grams a day.
  38.  
  39.  
  40.  
  41.  
  42.  
  43.  
  44.       Apples
  45.  
  46.       Surprise! America's favorite fruit is a
  47. secret Superfruit, thanks in part to its
  48.       red or green color. Apples are a great fiber
  49. source, but the skin contains
  50.       quercetin, an antioxidant that packs
  51. antihistamine and anti-inflammatory
  52.       power, and therefore may help protect you
  53. from heart disease and possibly
  54.       allergic reactions. A study from St.
  55. George's Hospital Medical School in
  56.       London found that people who eat five or
  57. more apples a week have better
  58.       lung function than those who don't. So slip
  59. an apple into your lunch bag today.
  60.  
  61.  
  62.  
  63.  
  64.  
  65.  
  66.       Cantaloupe
  67.  
  68.       Consider cantaloupe your secret weapon for
  69. smooth, younger-looking skin.
  70.       It gets its Superfruit status thanks to
  71. Vitamin A and its derivatives, which
  72.       boosts cell reproduction, making it a
  73. natural exfoliator, according to
  74.       Glassman.
  75.  
  76.  
  77.  
  78.  
  79.  
  80.  
  81.       Açaí Berries
  82.  
  83.       Açaí actually deserves some of the hype it
  84. gets, thanks to weapons grade
  85.       antioxidant levels that clobber other
  86. Superfruit rivals like blackberries,
  87.       strawberries, and blueberries. However,
  88. because this tiny berry hails from
  89.       Brazil, it's not easy to find fresh. "I
  90. recommend powdered açaí berry, which
  91.       can be added into a smoothie," says
  92. Glassman. "Not only is this an easy
  93.       way to get super fruits into your diet, but
  94. it also helps mask the tart,
  95.       sometimes bitter taste."
  96.  
  97.  
  98.  
  99.  
  100.  
  101.  
  102.       Blueberries
  103.  
  104.       Your go-to Superfruit for brain function and
  105. memory. Several studies link
  106.       high flavonoid levels in blueberries with a
  107. better memory, and regular
  108.       consumption may help keep your brain
  109. functioning well as you age, new
  110.       research suggests. One study found that
  111. women with the highest intake of
  112.       berries appeared to have a delay in
  113. cognitive aging by a whopping 2.5
  114.       years. Blueberries are also rich in
  115. manganese, which plays an important
  116.       role in your metabolism, which can help keep
  117. you slim and energized.
  118.  
  119.  
  120.  
  121.  
  122.  
  123.  
  124.       Bananas
  125.  
  126.       Ever grab a snack but then feel hungry again
  127. 20 minutes later? Next time,
  128.       reach for a banana. This Superfruit is
  129. loaded with potassium, which can
  130.       lower your blood pressure, and is one of the
  131. best sources of Resistant
  132.       Starch, a healthy carb that fills you up and
  133. helps to boost your metabolism.
  134.  
  135.  
  136.  
  137.  
  138.  
  139.  
  140.       Cherries
  141.  
  142.       Cherries are one of Glassman's unsung heroes
  143. of the Superfruit world.
  144.       They owe their deep red color to an
  145. antioxidant called anthocyanin, which
  146.       can reduce inflammation and lower
  147. triglyceride and cholesterol levels. In a
  148.       recent study, University of Michigan
  149. researchers found that giving cherries
  150.       to lab rats reduced two common markers of
  151. blood vessel inflammation by
  152.       up to 50%. The cherry eaters also gained
  153. less weight and experienced big
  154.       drops in cholesterol.
  155.  
  156.  
  157.  
  158.  
  159.  
  160.  
  161.       Citrus Fruits
  162.  
  163.       All citrus, from limes to tangerines, are
  164. chock-full of vitamin C, fiber, and
  165.       small amounts of other nutrients and
  166. disease-fighting chemicals. It's the C
  167.       that makes citrus a Superfruit, says
  168. Glassman, because this vitamin
  169.       counters the effects of sun damage,
  170. regulates oils glands, and can even
  171.       prevent age spots.
  172.  
  173.  
  174.  
  175.  
  176.  
  177.  
  178.       Cranberries
  179.  
  180.       These tart little berries are Superfruits,
  181. but especially for women. They may
  182.       prevent urinary-tract infections, and might
  183. help fight a far scarier disease:
  184.       ovarian cancer. According to a new Rutgers
  185. University study, cranberries
  186.       can boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy
  187. drugs used to fight ovarian
  188.       cancer (at least in laboratory culture
  189. dishes) and may slow the growth of
  190.       some cancer cells. Another study found that
  191. people who drink a glass of
  192.       unsweetened cranberry juice each day raise
  193. their HDL, or good cholesterol,
  194.       by 10%.
  195.  
  196.  
  197.  
  198.  
  199.  
  200.  
  201.       Dragon Fruit
  202.  
  203.       The name and vibrant color of this fruit's
  204. skin tell you that it's something
  205.       special, even though the taste is actually
  206. quite mild. Four years ago,
  207.       researchers from Malaysia's Universiti Putra
  208. analyzed the seeds and found
  209.       there to be a bounty of essential fatty
  210. acids, which we need but can't be
  211.       made by our body. In fact, 50% of the seeds
  212. were made up of an essential
  213.       fatty acid, oleic acid, which helps lower
  214. bad cholesterol and raise good
  215.       cholesterol. While this Superfruit is grown
  216. mainly in Asia, you might be able
  217.       to find one at your local Chinatown or
  218. farmer's market.
  219.  
  220.  
  221.  
  222.  
  223.  
  224.  
  225.       Grapes
  226.  
  227.       What makes grapes a Superfruit? A powerful
  228. antioxidant called resveratrol,
  229.       which promotes a healthy heart. Researchers
  230. have also found that
  231.       compounds found in grape seed extract seem
  232. to help slow Alzheimer's
  233.       disease (at least in mice) and can clobber
  234. head and neck cancer cells
  235.       grown in the laboratory. Oh, and forget
  236. bleaching your teeth. "The malic acid
  237.       in grapes naturally breaks down stains and
  238. discolorations on teeth," says
  239.       Elisa Mello, DDS, assistant clinical
  240. professor at New York University. Snack
  241.       on grapes that are just ripe, because the
  242. acid declines as the fruit ripens.
  243.  
  244.  
  245.  
  246.  
  247.  
  248.  
  249.       Grapefruit
  250.  
  251.       Remember The Grapefruit Diet? Grapefruit is
  252. a Superfruit, but more for your
  253.       heart than your weight. A grapefruit a
  254. day—particularly the ruby variety—can
  255.       help keep heart disease at bay by lowering
  256. cholesterol, according to
  257.       several studies. The redder your fruit the
  258. better; they contain higher levels of
  259.       antioxidants.
  260.  
  261.  
  262.  
  263.  
  264.  
  265.  
  266.       Kiwi
  267.  
  268.       If you've got digestive gripes, then kiwi is
  269. your Superfuit. In one study, 41
  270.       people who had irritable bowel syndrome
  271. (IBS) consumed two kiwis a day
  272.       for six weeks and reported a reduction of
  273. symptoms compared to those
  274.       who didn't. One theory: Kiwi, especially the
  275. skin, is high in fiber and pre-
  276.       biotic complex carbohydrates.
  277.  
  278.  
  279.  
  280.  
  281.  
  282.  
  283.       Oranges
  284.  
  285.       If you manage to eat just one medium orange,
  286. then you'll already have your
  287.       reached recommended daily intake of vitamin
  288. C, which keeps your immune
  289.       system humming. This familiar sweet fruit is
  290. also a great source of fiber,
  291.       potassium, calcium, folate, and other B
  292. vitamins, so take one with your
  293.       everywhere you go.
  294.  
  295.  
  296.  
  297.  
  298.  
  299.  
  300.       Plums
  301.  
  302.       Plums are yum—and they may help keep anxiety
  303. at bay. Plums contain an
  304.       antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which,
  305. according to French
  306.       researchers, is linked to decrease in
  307. anxiety-related behaviors in mice.
  308.  
  309.  
  310.  
  311.  
  312.  
  313.  
  314.       Pomegranate
  315.  
  316.       Pomegranates deserve their Superfruit
  317. status. The juice from this
  318.       gorgeous fruit beat red wine to win first
  319. place in a list of beverages ranked
  320.       by antioxidant levels in a University of
  321. California, Los Angeles study.
  322.       However, if you are set on fresh pomegranate
  323. over juice, wait for winter; the
  324.       fruit is at its best between September and
  325. February.
  326.  
  327.  
  328.  
  329.  
  330.  
  331.  
  332.       Strawberries
  333.  
  334.       Strawberries are bursting with vitamin C;
  335. just a cup full and you've already
  336.       reached your recommended daily intake. They
  337. are also an excellent source
  338.       of folic acid, which can help protect your
  339. heart. Easiest of all, they whiten
  340.       your teeth naturally! Crush a strawberry to
  341. a pulp, then mix with baking
  342.       soda until blended. Spread the mixture onto
  343. your teeth and leave on for 5
  344.       minutes. Reapply once a week.
  345.  
  346.  
  347.  
  348.  
  349.  
  350.  
  351.       Avocados
  352.  
  353.       Yup, these are a Superfruit (remember,
  354. fruits have seeds, vegetables
  355.       don't). Packed with monounsaturated fat and
  356. fatty acids, avocados can help
  357.       lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels while
  358. raising the amount of good
  359.       cholesterol in your body. The healthy fats
  360. in avocados also promote the
  361.       absorption of other carotenoids—especially
  362. beta-carotene and lycopene—
  363.       which are essential for heart health.
  364.  
  365.  
  366.  
  367.  
  368.  
  369.  
  370.       Tomatoes
  371.  
  372.       The tomato pretty much tops our list of
  373. Superfruits (even though some
  374.       people still think it's a vegetable).
  375. Tomatoes pack a sought-after antioxidant
  376.       called lycopene, which is rarely found in
  377. other Superfruits, and they're high
  378.       in vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, and
  379. super-low in calories.
  380.  
  381.  
  382.  
  383.  
  384.  
  385.  
  386.       Papayas
  387.  
  388.       Summer colds are the worst, so have some
  389. papaya! This tropical fruit is
  390.       bursting with vitamin C – just one cup gives
  391. you more than you need each
  392.       day. On top of this, papaya is also a good
  393. source of vitamins A and E, two
  394.       powerful antioxidants that may help protect
  395. against heart disease and
  396.       colon cancer.
  397.  
  398.  
  399.  
  400.  
  401.  
  402.  
  403.       Raspberries
  404.  
  405.       Fiber is not something that these berries
  406. are lacking; just half a cup would
  407.       give you 4 grams. You'd also get 25% of your
  408. recommended intake for
  409.       vitamin C and manganese too!
  410.  
  411.  
  412.  
  413.  
  414.  
  415.  
  416.       Pumpkin & Pumpkin Seeds
  417.  
  418.       Yes pumpkin is actually a fruit! This squash
  419. is overflowing with beta-
  420.       carotene, which combined with potassium may
  421. help to prevent high blood
  422.       pressure. If making homemade pumpkin pie is
  423. too much trouble, try
  424.       tossing the seeds into salads, soups, etc.
  425.  
  426.  
  427.  
  428.  
  429.  
  430.  
  431.       Watermelon
  432.  
  433.  
  434.  
  435.       Watermelon is packed with lycopene; in fact
  436. just one cup of the stuff has
  437.       more than twice as much compared to fresh
  438. tomato. At just 40 calories
  439.       per cup, it's also a source of vitamins A
  440. and C. You needn't limit yourself
  441.       to eating watermelon alone; grill and then
  442. toss with feta and fresh mint.
  443.  
  444.  
  445.  
  446.  
  447.  
  448.  
  449.       Pineapple
  450.  
  451.       Not only does pineapple add juicy sweetness
  452. to your meals but it also
  453.       contains bromelain, a digestive enzyme that
  454. helps break down food to
  455.       reduce bloating.