5 Superfoods for a Healthy Diet

These five foods pack a punch and help you maintain a healthy diet

The search continues for superfoods that keep us healthy, slow the aging process, and make us feel and look younger. While there’s no definitive list or single magic bullet, the following five foods are part of nutritionist Roufia Payman’s arsenal in the fight against a host of diseases (cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s among them), as well as a surefire way to boost energy and brain function. But even something good can become bad when too much of it is consumed. “Portion control is key,” says Payman, the director of nutrition education at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. “When you add fiber, for instance, introduce it gradually. Too much oat bran can make you feel bloated, even gaseous.” She also advocates healthful preparation — use seasonings such as nutmeg, coriander, cumin, balsamic vinegar, and lemon or lime juice rather than butter and cream. And — if they haven’t been part of your food line-up before — she advises introducing these items slowly into your diet. “Change can be hard,” she says. One resource that can help you get these superfoods on your plate: The 10 Things You Need to Eat, and More Than 100 Easy and Delicious Ways to Prepare Them by Dave Lieberman and Anahad O’Connor (HarperCollins).

(Click on the images of our top five superfoods below)

» Return to Ultimate Hudson Valley Health Guide 2012

 

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