Overcoming Obesity With Superfoods

What do you know about superfoods? They have been all over the media and health journals as foods that are going to help keep your body performing at the top of its game. These foods are said to be your allies in a battle against obesity and for healthy cholesterol levels as well as removing toxins from your body.

If you are one of the millions who are battling obesity, you need to learn about superfoods. Don’t feel alone in this battle, the American Obesity Association says right now there are about 127 million overweight American adults. Of those, 60 million are clinically obese. Nine million of those people are considered severely obese. Not only is obesity a frustration for those suffering it, it is also a harbinger of many other illness to come. According to the American Obesity Association, obesity increases the risk of contracting or advancing about 30 different serious medical conditions.

This is where superfoods come in. Not only are they good for you to battle illness, they also aid in weight loss.

Here are some of the superfoods you should try to incorporate into your diet:

Fruits

Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and blackberries may be little pieces of fruit, but they are chock full of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. In addition to the obvious benefits of fiber and vitamins, the antioxidants will set up a defense inside your body to ward off disease.

Citrus: Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are not only filled with juice, but they’re also full of fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and antioxidants.

Tomatoes: Yes, tomatoes are a fruit, and a fruit with benefits. These red juicy fruits are full of Lycopene, which is a good friend to your immune system. Lycopene helps to get rid of free radicals that can damage your body’s healthy cells causing heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.

Vegetables

Leafy Greens: A salad is more than just a low calorie meal replacement. If you select the right leafy greens for your salad, like spinach, romaine, broccoli rabe, kale, and endive, in addition to eating a tasty salad, you’re taking in a number of vitamins and anti-oxidents. These leafy greens also are filled with fiber, calcium and potassium as well as a number of other nutrients.

Legumes: All kinds of beans, peas, and lentils are superfoods. You can eat them plain, or put add them to your salads or soups. Many beans are also available in spread form and can be used as a dip, or tasty compliment for whole-wheat crackers. These legumes are full of protein and fiber. The fiber is a friend to your digestive system and overall health by helping you keep you cholesterol low and blood sugar constant.

Soy: Soy comes in a number of forms and can be eaten in its original form as a bean (edamame) or in various other forms from tofu to soy milk to soybean paste (miso). Tofu is a great source of protein and also filled with antioxidants.

Herbs

Tea: Starting or ending the day with a nice cup of herbal tea is more than just a tasty and relaxing drink. A cup of black, white, oolong and green teas is overflowing with flavanoids, which are a boost to your immune system, defending the body against disease.

Fish

Omega-3: When selecting what fish you are going to eat, try to focus on those that have Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help avoid heart disease and also are used by your body to strengthen the cells that make up your body, and strengthen the immune, nervous and reproductive systems. Fish with Omega-3’s include sardines, salmon, tuna, mackerel and other cold-water fish.

Nuts

Walnuts: Another good source of Omega-3 fatty acids is walnut. The fatty acids in walnuts are good for most of your body’s operating systems, including the immune, nervous and reproductive systems. In addition they will aid in healthy digestion.

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