Winter Power Foods
By aryon at January 20, 2011 | 2:50 am | Print
Boost your chances of staying healthy with these nutrient-packed picks
- Dairy Most milk, yogurt, and cheese contains vitamin D and calcium. These nutrients work together to prevent bone loss.
- Slow-cooked stews Made with lean beef, postrun stews provide iron needed for red blood cell production.
- Green tea A mug will warm you up post-workout—plus, research shows EGCG (a compound in green tea) has anticancer properties that may prevent skin-tumor growth.
- Canned tuna It’s a good source of vitamin D, important in the winter when less sun exposure decreases our body’s ability to produce it.
- Barley This chewy grain (perfect for soups and stews) is high in cholesterol-lowering fiber and selenium, which reduces free-radical damage.
- Winter squash Sharpen your eyesight for dark months with vitamin A superstars, such as pumpkin and butternut squash.
- Onions and garlic These bulbs provide a boost of flavor along with antimicrobial properties, which may help protect you from winter bugs.
- Kale In season in early winter, this leafy green delivers a megadose of vitamin K, which helps maintain strong bones and form blood clots.
- Baked potatoes White spuds are high in vitamin C, while sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A—two antioxidants that help protect your immune system.
- Citrus Oranges, grapefruits, and other types of citrus fruits (at their peak in the winter months) are high in fiber and immune-boosting vitamin C.
