Berries: Why they are berry, berry good for your health

guest — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:37:24 GMT

I ‘m just back from the American Dietetic Association’s Annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. What a state-of the art event!

I attended one session about inflammation and it’s contribution to heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and other so-called diseases of aging. Inflammation is created by the typical American diet (high in saturated fat, refined sugars, excessive calories). Hence, there’s no secret why the nation is plagued with diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Whole foods (especially whole grains, fruits, and veggies) contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds, such as phenolics and flavinoids. These compounds are not in vitamin supplements, so you are missing the boat if you think a vitamin pill can compensate for sub-optimal eating! Choosing a “closer to the earth” menu with mostly whole foods and less highly refined products is a wiser investment.

Blueberries and strawberries are just two examples of powerfully health-protective fruits. Their protective effect lasts for about six hours, so eating some colorful fruits and/or veggies at every meal invests in long-term health. If you are concerned about pesticides in fruits, such as strawberries, relax. You’d need to eat 1,500 servings of non-organically grown strawberries in one day to even approach a level of concern!

Eat wisely and live well,

Nancy

Blog Posts From Active Expert: Nancy Clark RD CSSD Tagged With berries

Berries: Why they are berry, berry good for your health