You are visitor number

Bottom of page

The following article is taken from Men's Health magazine. If you would like to see more articles, check out http://www.menshealth.com.  New stuff is at the top....

April, 1997
Five fruits you've probably never bought--but should

Pomegranate
     Good for: Dieting. It takes a while to pick and eat its corn kernel-sized seeds.
                     It can also curb bad breath.
      Taste:      Like bursts of cranberry-orange juice.

Papaya
     Good for: Heartburn, stomach distress and even Montezuma's revenge. Eaten regularly, it
                     lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, helps prevent strokes, and fights heart
                     and bowel disease, while clearing your complexion.
      Taste:      Sweet, slippery, melon-like.

Passionfruit
     Good for: Insomnia, stress, a sore throat and tonsillitis.
        Taste:    Aromatic and jelly-like, with a sweet-tart flavor, filled with soft edible seeds.

Guava
     Good for: Fighting the flu and cancer - ounce for ounce, guavas have triple the vitamin C
                     of oranges. And like its sister, papaya, it's a natural stomach relaxer.
        Taste:    Kind of, well, papaya-like.....

Litchi
     Good for: Asthmatics and bronchitis sufferers, because these perly white fruits stimulate
                     improved breathing. They also improve liver and kidney function and lower
                     your blood pressure.
         Taste:   Grape-like, but a little more chewy.

Do you have trouble picking the best products in the store?
First, always buy from front to back. Most perishable products (even frozen foods) are rotated
each time the shelves are restocked. The older goods are moved toward the front and the new shipments slipped in the back.
All USDA-inspected (hey, its an American magazine!) eggs carry a 3-digit number that indicates what day of the year they were packed. (January 1 is 001; December 31 is 365.)
Boboli, the pre-fab pizza crust, sometimes color-code those little plastic hooks to distinguish the old stock from the new.
At the produce counter, be ruthless. Fresher fruits and vegetables not only taste better, but they retain more of their nutrient content; the longer they've been sittingvthere, exposed to the air, the more vitamins and minerals have leached out.
A few guerilla tactics: To test corn, pull the husk down on one side of the ear and jab your fingernail into a kernel. If it spits mily juice, it's in its prime. Clear juice means it's not fillu ripe; no juice means it's over the hill. For Asparagus, choose stalks that have compact deep-green or purple tips. Snap off a floet of broccolli-it should snap cleanly. When you choose avocado, apply gentle pressure with your thumb. Feel for a little give, but if you leave a dent, it's overripe.
Testing grapes is simple: eat one.
                      

Jan, 1997
The Color Palate

To achieve the right ratio of nutrients in your diet, just keep a watchful eye on the color of your food.

BLUE
Eggplant is filling, not fattening, and a great meat substitute. It's a source of potassium, which tends to flush excess sodium from the body, helping lower blood pressure. (Potassium is also needed for healthy nerves and muscles.)
Prunes are a super source of fiber. They're full of magnesium and potassium, which may help maintain normal blood pressure.
Blueberries and other blue or purple fruits and vegetables contain anthrocyanins, flavonoids that may help prevent cancer.
Blackberries have 7.2 grams of fiber per cup--more than the amount blueberries have--and substantial amounts of vitamin C. They're a fair source of calcium and iron, too.

RED
Red Peppers--the caviar of vegetables--contain loads of vitamin C (half a cup provides 158% of the RDA), and they're a good source of vitamin A, which speeds healing and helps boost resistance.
Apples and Strawberries, like many other red plant foods, contain cancer-fighting anthrocyanins. They also offer vitamin C, insoluble fiber (to help prevent constipation and protect against colon cancer) and pectin ( a soluble fiber that fights high cholesterol).
Tomatoes (and ketchup) are high in the carotenoid lycopene, which may help lower your risk of colon and prostate cancer.
Kidney beans are packed with fiber and folate. They are also good sources of potassium and magnesium.
Salmon, beef and pork are good sources of proteins and iron. (Choose lean meat.) Salmon is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce cholesterol and protect against heart disease.
Red wine contains flavonoids, which may discourage formation of blood clots that bring on stroke and heart disease.

GREEN
Kiwifruit is an excellent source of vitamin C,good for protection against certain cancers, and contains some magnesium and fiber.
Broccoli, spinach and zucchini deliver blood-nurturing folate, vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat, the type that's been shown to lower cholesterol. Ounce for ounce, they're also higher in potassium than bananas.
Green cabbage is one of the best vegetable sources of vitamin E. It also contains magnesium and potassium.
Grapes contain a substance called ellagic acid, which may kill certain cancer-causing compounds in the body.
Lettuce, especially Romaine, is high in folate, vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Leeks, chives and parsley are underrated sources of vitamin C.
Green peas contain vitamin C, folate, magnesium, iron and zinc.
Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, a natural immune-system booster.

WHITE
Cauliflower and other white cruciferous vegetables contain high levels of indole glucosinolates, compounds believed to have a variety of cancer-fighting effects.
Onions and garlic contain vitamins and selenium and are natural blood-thinners.
French bread is a good source of blood-building iron and offer fair amounts of niacin, riboflavin and thiamine, B-complex vitamins that are involved in the production of energy in the body.
Oatmeal provides fiber plus thiamine and magnesium for healthy blood, nerves and muscles.
Yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream and milk all deliver proteins and calcium. Choose low- or no-fat varieties
Tuna, oysters and squid (calamari) contain loads of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and, in many case, zinc.

BROWN
Dried figs are fiber heavyweights and a good source of calcium and potassium.
Mushrooms supply respectable amounts of fiber and complex carbohydrates--and they're a superb choice for men watching their weight, since they contain almost no calories.
Pumpernickel contains thiamine, a B-complex vitamin essential for energy.
Brown rice and cereals are good for complex carbohydrates and fiber.
Tea and dark beer contain heart-protecting flavonoids.
Nuts are high in fat, but most of it is monounstaurated, which can help control cholesterol. They're also good sources of the immunity-strengthening nutrients vitamin E, iron and folate--plus zinc to maintain prostate health.

YELLOW
Bananas are high in vitamin B6, which helps fight infection. And the fruit's duo of high potassium and low sodium may protect against high blood pressure.
Pineapples, lemons and grapefruit deliver soluble fiber, as well as vitamin C to help enhance immunity.
Potatoes have almost twice as much potassium as bananas, plus plenty of complex carbohydrates and fiber.
Pasta provides a healthy dose of iron and respectable servings of thiamine and niacin, nutrients that help produce energy. It also includes some magnesium, riboflavin and folate.
Cheese contains proteins, potassium and fat. Look for low-fat varieties.
Eggs contain protein, several B vitamins and vitamin A. If you eat eggs often, try egg substitutes to cut cholesterol.
Beer contains carbohydrates, minerals and B vitamins. Try to keep to no more than two drinks a day.

ORANGE
Carrots are about the best source of vitamin A you'll find, and they help protect against cancer and boost immunity. A carrot supplies enough fiber to help lower cholesterol, control diabetes, speed weight loss and help fight digestive-system cancers. And the extra fiber can reduce the risk of hemorrhoids.
Oranges (fruits or juice) offer vitamin C, fiber and folic acid.
Mangos contain vitamin B6, essential for healthy blood. They are good sources of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E.
Lentils are an extraordinary source of folate and provide potassium and magnesium--two minerals that combat weakness and fatigue and stave off high blood pressure.
Pumpkin and cantalope are excellent sources of vitamin C and A, which help heal wounds and enhance immunity.
Apricots, peaches and nectarines provide fiber and vitamin C.
Shrimp (and other shellfish) are a great low-fat source of protein and nerve-protecting vitamin B12. They also carry a good amount of iron and niacin.

Back to the homepage

Back to Top