Moving on to some more amazing Power Foods that we should all include in our diet, I wanted to group these ones together so you can use them to make a delicious salad!
I use to think of a salad as a boring bowl of grass (because lets face it, iceberg lettuce had NO tatse!) with some extremely hard crutons and then topped with some fatty ranch dressing. But now, I am a salad making machine! There are so many options and you can always throw something in to make your tatsebuds say, "salad what?".
The five Power Foods today:
1.) Quinoa
2.) Bok Choy
3.) Brocolli
4.) Apples
5.) Cashews
You may think, quinoa in a salad? YES! I may be the only one obsessed with this stuff since I discovered it, but it is SOOO healthy for your body and adds amazing texture to any salad. Pronounced KEEN-WAH, it is a true power food providing a stunning array of minerals and vitamins. For those who are prone to migraine headaches, the magnesium found in quinoa can reduce the frequency of them, while relaxing the blood vessels to boost overall health. The list of vitamins found in quinoa goes on and ON!
-Iron, Vitamin E, B1, B2, B6, B9, manganese, potassium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorous.
Bok choy is more abundent in Vitamin A then any other cabbage and contributes to healthy skin and tissues! The calcium in bok choy even outdoes that of a GLASS OF MILK! It has no fat and is low in sodium, beneficial to both your heart and waistline. Key nutrients are Vitamin A, C, D, calcium, and beta-carotene.
Just ONE CUP of broccoli provied you with 150 percent of your daily vitamin C needs and 20 percent of your required fiber! It also contains beneficial amounts of phytochemicals that repair DNA, block the development of cancer cells and support the immune system because of their antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer properties.
Apples, I LOVE APPLES!!!! They are filled with phytonutrients that function as antioxiadants, supporting out heart health and helping to prevent a host of diseases. Key vitamins include Vitamin A, C, B6, potassium and fiber.
(A cashew is a fruit?!)
Nuts often get a bad rep because of their fat content, and it's true we shouldn't eat too many of them, but regular eating of nuts is associated with a lower body weight! The fat content of cashews is made up of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids, which aid in the reduction of triglyceride levels in the blood. Cashews are great for a healthy heart and also contain copper, magnesium, tryptophan and phosphorus.
Start chopping and enjoy a salad filled with flavor and nutrients! Even make your own salad dressing or add your favorite. It is all about creativity, keep it simple but exciting!
