Getting Real With Shadra Bruce

It seems as if the older I get, the more I focus on health. There doesn’t seem to be anything I can do about my apparent need for bifocals (which I refuse to get) or the gray in my hair (which I occasionally cover with dye when I start looking scary)…but there is a lot I can do about my health and the things I choose to eat. I have been doing a lot of research about the best foods, and these are my top 12 Superfoods:

1. Beans: Low fat, high fiber protein packed with iron.
2. Blueberries: Big on antioxidants, blueberries are the anti-aging berry.
3. Broccoli: I truly believe broccoli is the anti-cancer food. Eat it raw, and eat it every day.
4. Dark chocolate: One little square a day does wonders for your heart and your mind.
5. Walnuts: Three little walnuts a day is all you need for better heart health.
6. Spinach: Raw, dark green leafy veggies like spinach are better than anything that comes in a bottle.
7. Sweet potatoes: Good for your skin, your mood, your bones thanks to plentiful B6, Vitamin D, and Magnesium.
8. Cooked Tomatoes: Lycopene is another natural anti-cancer substance, so dish up some spaghetti!
9. Honey: As strange as it seems, honey can actually help your body control blood glucose levels. It has many fabulous properties that make it worth inclusion in nearly any diet (unless you are a child under the age of two or Vegan).
10. Wild Salmon: Omega-3s for heart health and lower cholesterol make this a 3-times a week addition.
11. Extra-virgin olive oil: Also high in Omega-3s, EVOO is not meant for cooking but for drizzling on veggies and in salads. For cooking, try grapeseed oil.
12. Cinnamon: Claims about cinnamon range from a simple healthy heart addition to a “miracle cure” – especially when mixed with honey.