Super Foods Lesson 1

Have you ever heard the statement, "you are what you eat?" Ironically it's true.

Think about it… why do many people suffer heart disease, type II diabetes, cancer, etc? Because of the bad food they have been putting into their bodies for their lifetime.

And then look at the other side of the spectrum… the health nuts that live longer, look younger, and feel better than their ill dieted counterparts. It's no secret that working out and eating a well balanced diet is far better for you in the long run.

Have you ever been wondered why this is? What makes some foods super and others pathetic? Well, over the course of the next few lessons be prepared to find out why some of the best foods for you really are so great.

If your mom wouldn't let you leave the table until all of your broccoli was gone then she was one smart cookie. Check this out:

Kicking Kancer in the Kan... Are You Eating Enough Cancer Fighting Veggies?

Of course vegetables are good for you. We all know they are packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many have tons of fiber and other bonus features too.

Cancer fighting veggies... Broccoli and Cauliflower, you can do a lot with these two.

One Such miracle vegetable group includes the cruciferous veggies. Sounds fancy, examples include broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. The vegetables we were forced to like as a child. Your mom was on to something by not letting you leave the table until they were gone or covering them with cheese to make it more enjoyable.

These vegetables are miracle workers in that they may be linked to decreasing your risks of cancer.

Specifically breast cancer in women. As the number two killer cancer of women (behind lung) this is a villain to be beaten down. Research was carried out at Vanderbilt-Ingram and Shanghai Cancer Institute that showed the vegetables to have cancer fighting power. To get a bit more detailed they have two important phytochemicals: isothiocyanates and indole-3-carbinol that stop carcinogenesis (the formation of caner) by one of two ways: stimulating the body to break down carcinogens or by blocking estrogen receptors (much of breast cancer, though not all, is sensitive to estrogen which is why women taking hormones to increase estrogen have a higher risk).

Phytochemicals is just a scientific word for chemicals naturally derived from plants and fruits.

What is even more impressive is that cruciferous vegetables go beyond breast cancer. They also may battle lung, stomach, colon and bladder cancers too.

Studies performed in California showed that men and women who consumed at least 3-4 ½ cup servings of the veggies were half as likely to develop these cancers compared to their non-eating broccoli peers.

And what vegetable is packed the most with these important phytochemicals? Broccoli sprouts. They actually have up to 50% more than the adult broccoli.

Here are some additional cruciferous vegetables that you might want to consider adding to your diet a bit each day:

• Turnips
• Collard greens (if you live in the south you should love these)
• Brussels sprouts
• Arugula
• Radish
• Chinese cabbage
• Cabbage

Do you feel like you're back in school again? But this time you are learning knowledge that you can apply everyday (I mean who remembers the molecular formula for nitric acid?).

How many times per day do you see the world antioxidant? Its in the news, on the internet, on every package at the grocery store… everywhere. But when it comes down to it… do you know what an antioxidant is?

It's definitely worth knowing. If you are too excited to wait then just click to move on to the world of antioxidants.

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