This week I had the distinct privilege of meeting with Wendy Bazilian to discuss the new Smart Choices grocery initiative. She was kind enough to share a few tips to help all of us experience a healthier, more successful shopping trip.
Watch her tips now and then read on to learn about the giveaway!
This week, we love Kellogg’s new Live Bright Brain Health Bars. For those who want to consume the right amount of essential fatty acids like DHA-3 (Docosahexaenoic acid) but don’t like the taste of fish, a natural source of these healthy fats, then look no further than Kellogg’s Live Bright Brain Bars.
DHA plus eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), another essential fatty acid, are believed to have beneficial effects in reducing cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. DHA, in particular, is found in the brain where it is needed for mental clarity and development and visual acuity and is different from a-linolenic acid (ALA) which is found in flax seed, walnuts and canola oil. Low levels of DHA have been found in children with ADHD and DHA was found to reduce inflammatory markers in men who are at risk for heart disease.
A very interesting article was written on the Mayo Clinic website about broccoli’s ability to reverse diabetes damage. The Mayo Clinic is a very credible and highly renowned hospital that has a great reputation as a pioneer and innovator in medicine – patient care, medical research and academic education. The article discussed a research study in which scientists examined the phytochemical sulforaphane, found in broccoli.
Research has shown that sulforaphane seems to help:
Produce enzymes in the body that protect blood vessels, which is achieved by reducing tissue damaging substances triggered by high blood sugar. Vascular disease is a major complication of diabetes. This type of disease can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and circulation issues in extremities, which could lead to possible amputation.
Activate genes that regulate protective antioxidant (scavenger harmful free radicals) and detoxifying enzymes.
This week, we love Sea Point Farms’ dry roasted Edamame and Goji Berry Blend. This super healthy snack is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Crunchy dry roasted edamame and chewy, tangy, dried goji berries make the perfect duo when you are looking for something yummy to snack on that’s healthy, too!
One one-ounce serving has 120 calories, 3 grams of fat, a whopping 7 grams of fiber and 11 grams of muscle-building protein, thanks to the protein punch of the baby soybeans.
It seems that each week we are introduced to a new Super Food that promises to protect us from any ailment, ache or pain all the while adding years to our life. While many of these Super Foods are familiar to us like blueberries and green tea, there is a whole category that come from distant tropical lands and sport funny names, textures and tastes.
Mangosteen - Super Food
Three new recently-lauded Super Foods are Goji berries, Mangosteen and Noni. Here is a quick look at all three of these and how they compare to the common, but equally powerful, Vitamin C-packed orange.
Gogi berries: These bite-sized reddish berries are somewhat like a raisin in appearance and texture: small, wrinkled and chewy. Gogi berries come from China and Tibet where they have been used for thousands of years to improve eye sight, promote liver function and add to overall health and longevity. Folklore has it that a Chinese man named Li Qing Yuen consumed goji berries daily and lived to be 252 years old (a rather undocumented claim).
16 Comments
