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“We dig our grave with our teeth.” This old saying sounds funny and odd, but unfortunately it is true. We are told from the time we are young that food provides calories or energy. But there’s so much more to food nutrition than that. Foods can make you feel healthier and younger - or they can make you deathly ill.

Eating healthy is important. The right foods can prevent heart disease or promote it. They will help you lose weight or get fat. Certain foods also keep your hair and skin beautiful well into your golden years, or allow them to fall out before their time causing you to look older than your years. And if you think it’s genetics consider this; the nutrition (or lack of) that you eat will determine which genes are dormant and which ones are activated.

Making healthier food choices can help you look and feel healthier and younger while cutting the risk for disease. These changes may help cut your health care costs and lessen the chance of becoming dependent on medications as you age.

Many of us know which foods to avoid, such as junk food. In fact, the more processed a food is, the less nutrition it may contain. The real question is - what can we eat? To get you going, here is a partial list of high nutrition foods to help keep you healthy and young.

Bananas contain vitamin c, magnesium and potassium and are a good source of fiber. They can strengthen the stomach lining against ulcers and since they are very high in potassium, they can help regulate high blood pressure.

Barley has long been considered a heart medicine in the Middle East. It can reduce cholesterol levels and contains antioxidants that may help prevent cancer. Many people drink the dried barley grass because it is full of vitamins, minerals and protein.

Beans are a great source of fiber which also helps to reduce cholesterol levels by up to 10%. In addition, these high protein sources may also help regulate blood sugar levels.

Blueberries can work as a powerful antibiotic. They help keep infectious bacteria from attaching itself to the lining of your urinary tract, helping to prevent bladder infections.

Cinnamon can help stimulate insulin activity therefore it may be helpful for those with adult-onset diabetes. It has also been shown to help prevent blood clots, but be sure to use the real Ceylon cinnamon, not a cheap imitation.

Chili Peppers help your blood flow freely through your circulatory system helping to lower the risk of stroke and heart attack. They contain capsaicin, a substance that fights inflammation. Capsaicin is currently used for pain relief from arthritis and even psoriasis. Fitness enthusiasts have long used chili peppers to help fight fat by speeding up metabolism.

Dates are packed with minerals including iron, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, calcium, copper and magnesium as well as being high in fiber. These treats also contain a substance that acts as a natural aspirin.

Garlic has long been used to stimulate the immune system and kill off dangerous parasites. It is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, and helps your body eliminate toxic buildup including zinc and lead. The National Cancer Institute is studying garlic for it’s anti-tumor properties.

Ginger helps to relieve nausea and pain caused from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers in Denmark have found it can block the effects of certain substances that cause inflammation of the brain, which leads to migraines. It also has been found to have a similar effect as aspirin does on the thinning of blood helping to prevent blood clots.

Parsley is a great source of antioxidants that help fight carcinogens, including those found in tobacco smoke. It has long been known to cleanse the body by absorbing toxins and helping to move them out of the body.

Tea is loaded with polyphenols. These antioxidants have been shown to protect from free radical damage as much as many fruits and vegetables! In addition, a recent study showed that just 2 cups of tea daily may lower the risk of ovarian cancer by 46%. Include it as part of your health regimen, because it is also known to help shed belly fat.

You can easily add many of these foods to your daily program. More and more research is finding how powerful whole foods are. This is probably why Hippocrates said “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”

Last 5 posts by Cindy Papp

• 6 Step Weight Loss Cleanse - June 4th, 2008
• The Absolute Best Fat Loss Exercise - May 22nd, 2008
• Make More Money With a Nutrition Education - May 10th, 2008
• How to Lose Weight With a Body Cleanse - May 8th, 2008
• How to Lose Fat and Keep It Off - May 6th, 2008

Tags: Exercise and Fitness