Have You Had Your Blueberries Today?

Most people think eating healthy is complicated and takes too much time.  It is true that processed junk food is often more readily available and doesn't require any preparation  But it really isn't that difficult to add healthy food into your daily routine and start eliminating some of the foods that are not good for you and that eventually lead to illness.

Let's start with blueberries.



Did you know that blueberries...

• are low in fat (1 cup of blueberries has about 80 calories and basically no fat) (I don't actually recommend a low fat diet. We need healthy fats in our diet for optimal health but I'll discuss that another day.)  
• banish belly fat
• prevent cancer by attacking free radicals, causing cancer cell death, and blocking the growth of tumor cells
• strengthen your immune system
• soften skin with their antioxidants
• are high in fiber which is crucial for healthy digestion
• lower the risk of age related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of vision loss in older people
• decrease the chances of heart attack in women
• reverse age-related memory loss due to their flavonoids
• prevent and heal urinary tract infections (UTIs) because they contain compounds that prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder walls
• lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes

You can easily add blueberries to your diet by having them plain or adding the to cereal or smoothies.  I would highly recommend organic.  I have read that if you are not eating organic, the wild blueberries may be a better choice.  I also firmly belief that if it comes down to eating non-organic blueberries (or any fruit or vegetable) or not eating them, the benefits of eating them are worth eating them versus not.  

There are probably even additional benefits but you can see that this is a super healthy food which is very easy to add to your diet. 

Benefits of Broccoli

I have talked to many people who haven't even tried broccoli because they assume they won't like it because of the way it looks or they had it once and didn't like it.  One thing I stress over and over again with my clients (and my kids) is that if you try a food and don't like it, try it prepared differently.  Many times even
trying it prepared the same way multiple times will change if you like it or not.

I love broccoli in general but I my favorite ways to have it are raw with hummus, steamed with a little olive oil and lemon juice, steamed on a salad, and roasted with lots of healthy seasonings.  I want to point out that my son, whose arm I have to twist to eat or try vegetables, actually loves when I roast broccoli.

So here are just a few reasons to eat more broccoli:

• Helps prevent cancer.  (A nutrient in broccoli called, sulforaphane, actually targets and kills cancer cells!)
• Fights Heart Disease
• Fights Diabetes
• Improves your immune system.
• Decreases overeating.  (Broccoli fills you up more quickly.  It's hard to eat too many calories of just broccoli.)
• Good source of protein. 
• Contains the following vitamins and nutrients:
•  Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B6
• Folate
• Beta-carotene
• Selenium
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Zinc

So eat some broccoli today!  If you don't like it, try it again another day and prepare it differently!  Enjoy!