Food of the Week Archive

#1 - Tomatoes

One of my favorites... tomatoes. I chose them as my first food of the week because I love the taste and they're very good for you. They're an excellent source of lycopene, which helps prevent many types of cancer, heart conditions, and diseases of the eye by neutralizing free radicals. They are a great source of many other vitamins and fiber, and are of course, low-calorie. There are many ways to prepare them and many dishes to add them to.

#2 - Pomegranate

The pomegranate is a large fruit with glistening red seeds that account for over half of its weight. It has very thick, leathery skin. It is typically available in the US only around October or November, so I wanted to make sure I got it in soon. This fruit can help sustain healthy cholesterol levels, help with osteoarthritis, and improve prostate health. Besides having more antioxidants than most fruits have; it has polyphenols, which are anti-viral and cause anti-tumor activity. Some studies show it prevents hardening of the arteries, and can reverse damage already done. You can get your dose from juice, jams, or fresh fruit. They smell wonderful, too. I love my pomegranate shower gel.

#3 Spinach

Spinach is a great way to add nutrition, but not calories, to your diet. I mainly chose this to tie in with my iron post, since spinach is rich in iron. A source of Vitamin K, it helps with the absorption and regulation of calcium, a second major benefit for vegetarians. (It also has zing to "mineralize" calcium into the bone.)

It contains lutein, beta-carotene, and quercetin. These may help fight prostate cancer and heart disease. They could also prevent macular degeneration. The lipoic acid in spinach helps regulate blood sugar. It is also a good source of vitamin C and folic acid, important for women!

Spinach can be prepared many different ways but be sure to thoroughly wash it! (I'm sure you remember the recalls).

# 4 - Cherries - My favorite fruit :)

There is a long list of the benefits of cherries. For a full explanation, visit NutriCoach. Here are the major beneficial contents:

Ellagic acid: part of cancer preventing drugs

Perillyl Alcohol: anti-tumor

Beta sitosterol: lowers blood cholesterol levels

Quercetin: reduces risk of heart attack and stroke

They have high fiber content

They are of course, fat free, sodium free, and cholesterol free!

#5 - Alfalfa Sprouts

Going vegetarian encourages you to try new foods you never opened yourself up to before. One of my new favorites is alfalfa sprouts. I add them to salads and even include them in my veggie quesadillas. They add a great texture!

Here are some of the nutrients found in alfalfa sprouts:Vitamins A, B, C, E and KCalcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, ZincCarotene, Chlorophyll, and Amino Acidsand even a few grams of protein.

Another great addition to the vegetarian diet - they are also relatively inexpensive. One package of them for $3.50 lasted me over two weeks.They have a shelf life of 4 to 6 weeks as well, another plus.