13 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating (Part One)
With January well underway and New Year’s Resolutions still on everybody’s minds, I am getting many emails with questions about what to eat to get the best results. In my last newsletter, I touched briefly on supportive nutrition.
Today I want to share with you some information about foods that provide health benefits you may not be aware of. We often hear about how certain foods boost immunity, reduce the risk of cancer or maybe even help with weight loss.
I have put together a list of 13 of the best foods you might not already be eating. Today I’m posting foods 1-7, tomorrow I will give you 8-13. Enjoy!
Sardines – These tiny fish are super high in omega-3 fats and have virtually no mercury, like many other fish do. They’re also a great source of calcium and vitamin D! They’re sold year round in the can … add them to salads, mix them in pasta sauce, or use them in place of tuna fish.
Swiss chard – This dark, green, leafy veggie is loaded with nutrients, called carotenoids, that help protect your eyes. It’s also a great source of vitamin K and other nutrients. Saute some with garlic and a bit of olive oil, with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Turmeric – This is the ultimate anti inflammatory spice. Add it to rice, veggie dishes, or even try it in scrambled eggs!
Red cabbage – This cruciferous vegetable is loaded antioxidant polyphenols – particularly anthocyanins, which give red cabbage its color, and may be responsible protecting the brain from Alzheimer’s disease. It also has up to 8 times the vitamin C of green cabbage. Add shredded cabbage to wraps, salads, or find a mayo free recipe for coleslaw and give it a try!
Cinnamon – Another powerful spice, just ½ tsp per day has been shown to lower LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides. It may also lower blood sugar in those with diabetes and is a powerful antioxidant – sprinkle some on oatmeal, in smoothies, on cottage cheese, or yogurt.
Quinoa – This ancient grain boasts one of the highest protein contents of any grain, it’s high in fiber, and higher in many other minerals than most grains. It’s great as a breakfast cereal, mixed with some dried fruit and nuts, or use it as a substitute for rice in recipes.
Broccoli – This cruciferous vegetable is particularly high in a nutrient called sulforaphane, which has cancer fighting properties. Mix broccoli into omelets, on salads, in stir fry or pasta sauce.





Last week was week one of Shannon’s magnificent fitness buffet of indoor cycling and group personal training. We started with a seminar on “supportive nutrition,” which gave us a good idea of what we should be eating if we wish to have the energy to complete these intense workouts and shed some pounds at the same time. This seminar went way beyond the basic “if it tastes good don’t eat it” advice you get from some trainers. We talked about glycemic index, why fiber does more for your body than simply help you make a doodie (as if that isn’t enough), the benefits of eating pike and wild game and a host of other fun facts.



