Figs: Middle Eastern Jewels

Figs are rich, honey-flavored delicacies that evoke images of an oasis amidst warm desert sands. They originated somewhere between southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean-not far from where the Garden of Eden is reputed to have been. They were so highly valued in ancient Greece that their export was forbidden.

But aside from their rich, full flavor; dried figs-which is the way most of us eat these little gems-contain an impressive five grams of fiber per three-fig serving, enough to help prevent constipation, lower cholesterol and perhaps even reduce our chances of developing colon cancer. Read more

Cruciferous Vegetables: The Ideal Anti-Cancer Family

Cruciferous vegetables are the mushy things that smelled up the kitchens of our childhood. Fortunately, few of us have held to that childhood vow. Instead, most of us have gone on to discover that when lightly steamed and appropriately sauced, these members of the cabbage family are actually tender, occasionally crunchy, sources of fiber that contain chemicals that may boost your body’s defenses against cancer. Read more

Corn: Golden High-Fiber Goodness

The mainstay of Native American diets for thousands of years, corn remains a popular food for modern Americans. There’s nothing corny about this succulent kernel, which provides an array of health benefits.

Corn is mostly a complex carbohydrate, the kind of starchy food the American Heart Association says should make up at least half our calories each day. And even though it’s a popular source of oil, sweet corn itself is low in fat. Corn is also great for people trying to lose weight. A single plain ear of corn (about a half-cup serving of kernels) has only about 80 calories. Read more

Citrus Fruits: Sun-Kissed Disease Fighters

Citrus County, Florida, may well be one of the healthiest places in the world to live. Oranges, grapefruits and tangerines all grow abundantly  in this neck of the woods-basking in the fierce white sun, the intense humidity and the loving appreciation of thousands of winter residents who can step outside from December through March to pick one of nature’s most therapeutic gifts.

“Citrus fruits are packed with natural substances that may prevent cancer, reduce allergy symptoms and help protect the heart”, says John Attaway, Ph.D., director of scientific research. Read more

Cherries: Pucker Power

Sweet cherries, the kind of cherries most of us enjoy fresh from a roadside stand on hot summer days, are low in fat, high in fiber and-if you believe a common folk remedy-able to help cure gout.

Yet, it’s actually the sweet cherry’s sour cousin-the sour cherry we usually bake into an all-American pie on the Fourth of July-that packs the most nutritional power.

Sour packed with three of the nutrients-beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E-usually referred to as antioxidants. Read more

Carrots: Nutrient-Rich Roots

If Bugs Bunny ever dies, it probably won’t be from heart disease or cancer. That’s because carrots, a rich source of both betacarotene and fiber, have been found to help prevent cancer and reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Researchers show that those who ate six or more servings of root vegetables a week-raw or cooked-were significantly less likely to have a heart attack than those who didn’t. Read more

Buckwheat: Healthy Alternative to Wheat

Because of its name, you might think buckwheat is a grain. In fact, it is from an entirely different plant family than wheat and most grains. It’s closely related to rhubarb. But like wheat, buckwheat makes excellent bread and cereals. That makes it a possible selection for most (but not all) adults with celiac disease, an intestinal problem that can be controlled by avoiding gluten, a sticky protein found in wheat and other grains.

But those people with celiac disease who stand to benefit aren’t the only ones who can enjoy buckwheat. This is one food that has a little something to offer everyone. Read more

Berries: Brimming With Natural Benefits

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries-it seems as though much of our world is designed to have a berry within reach from the first warm days of spring to the last cool days before frost.

And a good thing, too. Berries may help protect your body from cancer, urinary tract infections, viruses and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. They may also help reduce your allergy symptoms. They might even help prevent eye and nerve damage in people who have diabetes. Read more

Eat Beans To Lower Your Cholesterol

Red beans, black beans, pink beans, green beans-there’s such a selection of beans scattered throughout markets today that it’s almost impossible not to find at least one fresh, frozen, canned or dried variety that will tickle your taste buds.

Yet who would think that anything so colorful and tasty would also be potent enough to reduce cholesterol levels, stabilize blood sugar, reduce appetite and help fight off cancer?

“I think of beans as a broad-based nutrient-rich food”, says Joanne Slavin, professor of nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Read more

Barley: Power Healthy Food

Breakfast of Gladiators

No wonder this grain has a reputation as the original power food. Several thousand years age, Greek gladiators were eating barley for strength and stamina. In fact, the locals dubbed these warriors barley eaters.

Modern-day barley eaters are most likely to envoy these chewy pearls in soups or stews. Read more

Next Page »