Monday, 27 October 2008

13 Foods With Drug Like Effects

Over the years my diet has change a lot , from my college days of eating mostly pizza and wings to now were I eating mostly vegetables and meat(chicken, steak, pork, ham, turkey, etc.) And doggone it, it is going to get better.

I’ve chosen the follow foods because they appear to have almost drug like effect on the human body. Eat them as often as you can, as once a week is better than zero times a week. Of course, the better you adhere to the training program or the nutritional program, the greater are the rewards, be they in physique, athletic ability, or iron-clad health.

1. Grass-Fed Beef
Cows that been fed grass have a better fat profile vs. cows that have been fed corn. Grass fed cows have less Omega-6, and more Omega-3. It also contains significantly higher amounts of CLA, which helps to lower your risk of cancer and has less saturated fat than corn-fed beef. Grass-fed beef also contains high amount of creatine.

2. Blueberries
The antioxidants content of this little berry, is greater than any other vegetable or fruit. One serving of blueberries contains as much as fives the antioxidant of apples, broccoli, carrots, or squash. Eating blueberries every day have been link to preventing cancer and cardiovascular dieses, and better control of motor skills.

3. Broccoli
Consumption of broccoli has been show to reduced the size of tumors by 75% and prevented the development of them by 60%. Broccoli is also high in polyphenols (antioxidants) and Indoles (estrogen blockers). Broccoli also has the ability to boost the immune system, fight birth defects, build bones, and prevent degenerative eye diseases.

4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil has been shown to contain five times the polyphenols, and is superior to regular blended olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil increases arterial wall elasticity, and has many of the same benefits as walnuts. Extra virgin olive oil is also the king of all oil, when it comes to mono unsaturated fat, with 72% of the fatty acid being mono unsaturated fat.

5. Flaxseeds
Flax seeds are probably the best source of planet-derived Omega-3 fatty acids. Besides being rich in plant based Omega-3 fatty acids, Flaxseeds also contains fiber, protein magnesium and lignins (phytoestrogens.)

6. Mushrooms
Mushrooms in general contain zinc, essential amino acids and host of other vitamins. While Shiitake mushroom appear to posses anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. Shittake extract called Lentinan, which the Japanese have license as a anti cancer drug, has shown promising effects on bowel, liver, stomach, lung and ovarian cancers. Lentinan works by stimulating the production of T lymphocytes and natural killers cells.

7. Canned Pumpkin
Canned pumpkin is actually more nutritious than the raw version, and is available all year round. Pumpkin contains the richest supply of carotenoids known to man, is high in fiber, and low in calories. Pumpkin also has a really cool bend of synergistic phytonutrients, which are suspected to help in modulate immune responses, enhance cell to cell communication, protect against various cancers, and even has been suspected by some to slow aging.

8. Spinach
Spinach is far better for you than your typical Romaine or iceberg lettuce salad. Spinach is another vegetable that nutrients and phynotruients display wonderful synergy. Spinach is high in carotenoids such as zeaxanthin and beta-carotene, along with antioxidants like CoQ10 and glutathione, and the insulin modulator alpha lipoic acid(ALA). Not only that, but spinach is fairly rich in plant-derived Omega-3 fatty acids, too. Spinach can help lower your risk for many types of cancers, degenerative eye disease, and lowers your level of homocysteine.

9. Tomatoes
Men, eat your Tomatoes. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a member of the carotenoid family and could be a silver bullet in preventing prostate cancer. Lycopence is also a powerful antioxidant and also has properties that have been shown to raise your natural skin’s SPF(Sun Protection factor.)

10. Turkey Breast
Lean, mean, fighting machine. Turkey is practically the leanest meat you can buy. Turkey is high in tryptophan, protein and selenium, but very low in saturated fat, with only 0.2grams per 3oz.

11. Walnuts
Walnuts have been shown to reduce heart attacks and possible even reduce all death. Walnuts are rich in plant based Omega-3 Fatty acids (alpha linolenic acid), high in plant sterols, which helps to reduce cholesterol, and also have the ability to help keep the insides of your blood vessels smooth (arginine). And if that was enough, they also are the nut with the contains the high amount of antioxidants, and are very rich in magnesium and copper, which is deficient in most diets. .

12. Wild Salmon
Unlike it bastardized farm raised cousin, wild salmon is really good for you. Wild salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, controls hypertension and inflammation, helps to prevent cancer and degenerative eye diseases, and it possible could boost your metabolism, which helps you lose fat easier.

13. Plain Yogurt
Gastrointestinal problems are at the root of a lot of health problems, and have been linked with your bodies inability to fight other diseases such as cancer, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers and diarrhea. After all, if you cannot digest food, assimilate its nutrients and dispose of waste, how can your body immune system protect you? Yogurt that contain live active cultures of bacteria encourages the growth of good bacteria and hampers the growth of bad bacteria.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I only eat grass fed beef. It's definitely much better for you - and I always order from La Cense because their beef, to me, retains the most flavor. http://www.lacensebeef.com

They also started this amazing online social community at http://www.grassfedparty.com I'm a member and I love it. You guys should definitely check it out.

GREAT article.