Indulge yourself in superfoods this winter
Image by Julia Lieb.
In the midst of hibernation season, humans are participating in hyperphagia. Hyperphagia as defined by dictionary.com is compulsive eating over a prolonged period. Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching and we must not go overboard with the readily available pumpkin pie and Christmas cookies. You must remember to resist the temptations of unhealthy eating during the food-filled holidays. These are the five super-foods you can go overboard with to stay healthy this winter.
- Pomegranate: Pomegranate juice is richer in antioxidants than other fruit. Just one cup daily protects you from plaque build up in the arteries and improves blood flow to the heart.
- Dark Leafy Greens: It is best if you leave the dressing off. Examples of these vegetables rich in vitamin A, C and K include chard, spinach, kale and collard greens. These greens thrive during the cold season. Tossing some dark leafy greens with blueberries and strawberries makes a great salad.
- Citrus: Eating one orange delivers more than 100% of your daily dose of vitamin C. Citrus fruits will add sunshine to the bleak winter as they are the juiciest during this chilly season. Additionally, they will prevent a cold as it approaches with their vitamin powers. Some examples of citrus fruit include lemons, limes, tangelos, and grapefruit.
- Clean Potatoes (Clean refers to no toppings- especially nothing fried.): Potatoes are full of vitamins C and B6 that deliver 25% and 29% of your daily dose per potato, respectively. This vegetable also provides 4 grams of fiber per potato, which can prevent heart problems, cancer, weight gain and diabetes.
- Winter Squash: Types of winter squash include butternut, acorn and spaghetti. Winter squash is high in vitamins A (the eye vitamin), B6, C and K. Specifically, spaghetti squash is a delicious swap for pasta as it looks and tastes similar and is only 30 calories, while a serving of pasta is 220 calories
Sources: Eatingwell.com and Readersdigest.com
