Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Meet Your New Best Friends--Yummy!

Nutrient-dense, low calorie foods must be the backbone of any healthy diet. Rather than juggling proportions of fat, carbs and protein, we should focus on getting as many micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals) in as few calories as necessary. True hunger is satisfied by adequate micronutrients, not a set number of calories. You can eat many empty calories without feeling full. This is how you end up overweight. Or you can eat delicious foods that contain few calories but satisfy your hunger in addition to preventing heart disease and cancer, our two biggest American killers.

But what are these foods? Below is a list of the healthiest foods on the planet. Bon appetit!

Top 30 Superfoods / Nutrient Score
1. Collard, mustard and turnip greens 1000
2. Kale 1000
3. Watercress 1000
4. Bok choy 824
5. Spinach 739
6. Brussel sprouts 672
7. Swiss chard 670
8. Arugula 559
9. Radish 554
10. Cabbage 481
11. Bean sprouts 444
12. Red peppers 420
13. Romaine lettuce 389
14. Broccoli 376
15. Carrot juice 344
16. Tomatoes and tomato products 190-300
17. Cauliflower 295
18. Strawberries 212
19. Pomegranate juice 193
20. Blackberries 178
21. Plums 157
22. Raspberries 145
23. Blueberries 130
24. Papaya 118
25. Brazil nuts 116
26. Oranges 109
27. Tofu 86
28. Beans (all varieties) 55-70
29. Seeds: flaxseed, sunflower, sesame 45
30. Walnuts 29

Source: Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Eat Right America Food Scoring Guide, www.EatRightAmerica.com