Did you know that you have the potential to feel like a super-human? Well…maybe not super, but your body will definitely thank you for consuming these foods! Learn about why avocados, berries, and garlic are some of the most powerful foods you can eat – you are what you eat!
Avocados
Who doesn’t love guacamole or adding avocado to a sandwich? Maybe that’s my obsession with avocados talking, but did you know that they are a superfood?! Avocados are packed with nutrients including vitamins C, E, K, and B6, along with folate, magnesium, potassium, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Avocados contain a high level of healthy fats that can help us stay full for longer periods of time. They provide polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat, which is great for your heart. We consume tons of saturated fat, such as butter, which can increase our risk of heart disease. If you want to keep a strong, healthy heart, then consider switching your high saturated fatty foods with avocados!
Berries
There are so many berries that contain benefits, so I decided to put them all together in this post! Just to name a few there are strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, elderberries, and blueberries. They all have different levels of nutritional value, but they are all high in fiber, low in calories, and full of antioxidants! Antioxidants help prevent or delay some types of cell damage. We experience cell damage everyday from the oxidative stress we go through as a result of free radicals. Some activities that cause cell damage are air pollution, sunlight, and cigarette smoke. Adding antioxidants into your diet can help prevent some diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. Blueberries are known to be high in anthocyanin pigments, which give them their bold color, but also make them higher in antioxidants. A handful of blueberries a day keeps the doctor away!
Garlic
You may have smelled that distinct, strong odor when you read it, but it’s true – garlic is a superfood! However pungent the vegetable is, it has some wonderful health benefits. Garlic contains vitamin C and B6, manganese, selenium, and allicin. Allicin is an antioxidant that scientists believe to be the root cause of garlic’s benefits. Garlic contains the highest benefits when it’s chopped, crushed, or chewed. There’s been research to show that garlic can help lower blood pressure. In fact, consuming 600-1,500 mg of aged garlic extract was as effective as the drug Atenolol, which is used to reduce blood pressure. Garlic also has been shown to reduce the level of heavy metals within the body. We are exposed to heavy metals everyday and don’t realize it. Some of the signs are headaches, lethargy, and blood pressure issues. Garlic can help detoxify your body from some of the hazardous metals that are affecting your organs and other bodily functions. Do your body a favor and add some garlic in your dinner tonight to receive some of those healing benefits!
