Healthy Nutrition From Common Foods: 4 Everyday Foods With Surprising Health Benefits by Dr. Vikki Petersen

It is no surprise that food is powerful medicine. But what if I told you that some of your favorite, everyday foods have some surprising health benefits that you may not be aware of?

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" has been ascribed to Hippocrates 400 B.C. Talk about something standing the test of time! The leading killers among Americans are degenerative diseases that have been proven to be reversed with a healthy change in diet. Mood, cognitive health and overall body function are strongly associated with dramatic health benefits.

Here are four foods with surprising health benefits:

1. Cruciferous Veggies Protect Your DNA and Fight Cancer: Crucifers are a variety of vegetables including broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, arugula and more. They have anti-cancer benefits, contain strong antioxidants and protect your DNA from damage. Getting one to two servings per day is a great goal.
2. Pomegranate and Cranberry Juice Can Help Stabilize Blood Sugar: Pomegranate juice and cranberry juice (unsweetened and preferably organic) feed a very important gut bacteria called Akkermansia (Ack-er-man-see-ya). This bacteria can help reduce obesity and stabilize your blood sugar, thereby creating a beneficial impact on diabetes and overweight individuals. It also helps to protect your gut lining, enhancing digestion and immunity.
3. Onions and Garlic Are Good for Heart Health: Onions and garlic are part of the allium family, which also includes chives, scallions, leeks and shallots. You may think of onions as more of a condiment, but this family of foods can lower your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol, protect your heart and lower your incidence of cancer. 
4. Ground Flaxseeds for Mood and More: Flaxseeds are small seeds that pack a strong nutritional punch. I prefer the golden flaxseeds vs. the brown flaxseeds, as the golden have a better taste. Grinding your flaxseeds is a must in order to release its omega 3 fatty acids and lignans. Flaxseeds provide great fiber for gut health or constipation, its lignans have cancer prevention properties, and its healthy fat content can lower inflammation and bad cholesterol levels. The omega 3s can even boost your mood naturally. Do not purchase already ground because the good fats can go rancid. Use a coffee grinder and grind for a couple of days at a time, not more.

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