What's Your Power Food?

We all know that fruits and vegetables should be staples of a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. Although variety is the spice of life, there are certain foods that should be included in your diet that will give you:

• The richest amount of nutrients

• The least amount of calories

• The most health benefits

• A lower risk of heart disease

Here are some common fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins that you should make sure you include in your diet:

• Asparagus – rich in vitamin B6, folate, and fiber

• Broccoli – tons of vitamins B6, C, E, and K, folate, and fiber

• Salmon – great source of vitamins B6, B12, and D, phorphorus, potassium, and selenium

• Apples – rich in vitamin C, fiber, and flavonoids (flavonoids are a type of phytochemical found in foods with strong antioxidant properties that protects against cancer and heart disease)

• Berries – loaded with vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium, and fiber

• Brown Rice – great source of vitamins B1 and B6, fiber, niacin, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc

As a general rule, the less processed the better. All of these “power foods” are rich in nutrients, but that nutrient content starts to decline as they are processed. For example – fruit and veggie chips will have far less health benefits than raw fruits and vegetables.

Total Body Fitness in Oak Park employs an in-house Registered Dietician and numerous personal trainers to help you with all your health and fitness goals.