What is a superfood? It is a fruit, vegetable or protein source that offers a long list of benefits when part of a balanced diet. Salmon, blueberries and broccoli all have a place on this list. Here are five foods on this list along with the pros and cons they offer.
Dandelion Greens
Pros: These pesty weeds are actually highly nutritious. They have a lot of vitamin C and more calcium than spinach. They also may act as a diuretic. They’re among the first plants up, and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Cons: They are very bitter, especially as they get older. It also has some interactions, including with prescription diuretics.
Grapefruit:
Pros: There are more nutrients than equal amounts of many other fruit juices calorie for calorie. One serving provides your full RDA of vitamin C for the day.
Cons: Many medications interact with grapefruit juice as do some herbs. If you have any conditions that require medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if yours are a problem. These interactions can be deadly.
Seaweed:
Pros: An excellent source of both iron and iodine, seaweed can be a great source of nutrients. It’s often used in Asian cooking, and is an important part of sushi.
Cons: If you take a tricyclic antidepressant, taking anything with iodine in it can cause extreme high blood pressure. It may interact with other medications.
Beans:
Pros: As a lean protein, beans can help with a low fat, low cholesterol diet. Since it is a plant source, it has absolutely no cholesterol. They’re also full of fiber and iron.
Cons: Beans can be higher in purine than some cuts of meat, which can cause a gout flare up. It’s also high in starch, so diabetics will have to eat them with caution.
Red Wine:
Pros: A glass of red wine can help prevent heart disease and raise good cholesterol levels.
Cons: It’s very easy to go overboard with alcohol, and it can damage your body. Drinking large amounts will undo all of the benefits it can bring.
There is one more con from superfoods. Many people depend solely on these foods for all of their diet. That’s not a good idea, as we need a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and proteins. It’s good to eat some of them every day, but don’t limit yourself to only them.
I've studied herbal remedies since 1981 and have been a Master Herbalist since 2004. I've written five eBooks on various herbs and the conditions they can help, including one on gout.
Visit this link for more information on healing home remedies and home remedies for it. There are articles and posts on a variety of topics including stress, headaches, back pain and cholesterol.
While there, you can also download my free report, the Top Ten Herbs. This discusses the uses, side effects, precautions and side effects of these popular products.
If you wish to contact me, you can e-mail: mary@healing-home-remedies.com.
Read More From Mary Bodel, MH
|
