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Health Foods - Top 26
While most foods are good for you, some are better for you than others. Besides being a good source of nutrition, the following foods are also good medicine.
| Health Food | Nutrients it Contains | Health Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Garlic | Allicin, allylic sulfides, antioxidants | antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-cancer; lowers cholesterol |
| Onions | Similar to garlic | similar to garlic |
| Apples | Quercetin, flavenoids, pectin | anti-cancer |
| Spinach | lutein | protects retina of eye |
| Tomatoes | Lycopene, other carotenoids, vitamin C, coumaric acid, chlorophyll acid | anti-cancer, especially prostate cancer |
| Chili peppers | Capsaicin, vitamin C, beta carotene | anti-cancer; binds carcinogens |
| Red grapes | resveratrol | anti-cancer; prevents sticky platelets, lowering risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke |
| Soy products (e.g., tofu) | Isoflavones, genistein | anti-cancer; reduces cholesterol |
| Green tea | Polyphenols | anti-cancer; lowers heart disease; prevents gingivitis |
| Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage | Beta-carotene, vitamin C, sulforaphane, indoles | anti-cancer |
| Fish (especially salmon and tuna) | Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA | lowers triglycerides and cholesterol |
| Flax oil | Omega-3 fatty acids | boosts immune system; lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol; promotes healthy skin; anti-cancer |
| Legumes: beans, peas, lentils | Isoflavones | anti-cancer |
| Pink grapefruit | Lycopene, pectin | anti-cancer |
| Strawberries | Elegiac acid, quercetin | anti-cancer |
| Blueberries | Anthocyanins | anti-cancer |
| Citrus fruits | Limonene | anti-cancer |
| Nuts and Seeds | Omega-3 fatty acids, lignins, vitamin E | anti-cancer |
| Cantaloupe | Carotenoids, vitamin C | anti-cancer |
| Watermelon | Lycopene | anti-cancer |
| Papaya | Carotenoids, vitamin C | anti-cancer |
| Sweet potatoes | Beta carotene, vitamin C | anti-cancer |
| Olive oil | monounsaturated fatty acid | lowers cholesterol |
| Shiitake mushrooms | Lentinen | boosts immune system |
| Cranberry juice | hippuric acid | Acidifies urine and prevents bacteria from adhering to lining of bladder, thus reducing urinary tract infections |
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