Strengthen Your Diet with Delicious Superfoods

10/01/08 Helping to improve your overall health may be as easy and flavorful as revamping your favorite cuisine. The key is to prepare dishes with a mix of functional superfoods to promote optimum wellness. These antioxidant-rich gems from the fruit, vegetable, whole grain, legume, nut and fish categories provide substantial nutrients compared to their total calories to actively benefit the body with each bite.

Among the tastiest and most nutritious superfruits, Florida grapefruit and 100 percent Florida grapefruit juice are beneficial on their own or paired with other superfoods and can enhance vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, folate, as well as lycopene intake in pink or red varieties. A serving of fresh grapefruit or 8-ounces of juice is fat-free and contain less than 100 calories per serving.

"Including versatile grapefruit or 100 percent grapefruit juice as part of a well-rounded superfood diet that is low in fat and cholesterol may help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, promote healthy, glowing skin, and aid in the maintenance of healthy weight and cholesterol levels," says celebrity "Skinny Chef" Jennifer Iserloh.

As a way to naturally promote youthful energy and appearance, chefs like Iserloh are moving towards developing meals and recipes that rely on a savory mix of superfoods to increase the antioxidant potency of each dish.

"Developing a diet rich in nutrient dense foods is a delicious way to help rejuvenate your mind and body while striving for long-term wellness," says Iserloh. "By embracing the taste and nutritional offerings of various superfoods, it's easy to prepare fulfilling dishes that don't sacrifice on flavor."

Iserloh wants consumers to know that following a well-balanced diet is feasible and recommends a few simple steps for revamping your regimen:

-- Evaluate the density of your diet. Implement more nutrient-dense snacks into your diet, like an 8-ounce glass of 100 percent pink Florida grapefruit juice. It's more nutrient rich than many other commonly consumed 100 percent fruit juices. Plus, pink or red grapefruit contains lycopene, which some studies suggest may help reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer.
-- Become well-versed in nutrient speak. Familiarize yourself with the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals commonly found in superfoods. Colorful vegetables, such as beets and sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, which can help support a healthy immune system. Nuts, including almonds and walnuts, as well as wild salmon, offer omega 3 fatty acids to support healthy brain function and cardiovascular health. Fiber, found in fruits and vegetables, whole grain pastas and breads may help support healthy cholesterol levels and aid in digestion.
-- Variety is key. While each superfood contains nutrients that can help to address certain health concerns, it's important to implement a mix of superfoods, either on their own or as part of recipes to benefit from their collective benefits. Doing so will contribute to a lifetime of wellness and help curb health issues.
-- Think like a chef. You may be used to eating a particular food item for breakfast, lunch or dinner, but superfoods can be used creatively to satisfy your tastes at any meal. For example, enjoy a bowl of fresh grapefruit slices with light whipped topping for dessert to get a boost of antioxidant vitamin C.
-- Doctor your recipes. Swap empty-calorie items in recipes with a variety of superfoods, to boost their nutrient content and support good health at the same time. Instead of frying chicken breasts, roll them in a mix of almonds and flax-seed and bake them for a heart-healthy coating. You'll find you won't even notice a taste difference with healthier food choices, or they will actually improve the flavor of recipes.