Functional foods are defined as “foods that have been linked to potentially healthful benefits.”

Obviously, some foods provide more health benefits than others, ranging from the super foods that are great health foods, to the dismal stuff loaded with toxic substances.

Choosing The Best Functional Foods

The New York State Dietetic Association recently chose what they consider to be the top five functional foods. They polled nutritionists in their organization to list foods they considered to have the best health benefits and value. Not surprisingly, three of their choices are on the Super Hero Health Foods List.

The Top Five Functional Foods List

Their choices are:

1. Salmon: Chosen for the potent omega-3 fatty acid levels, salmon tops the list. These substances have benefits for the heart, brain and more.
2. Oats: The high fiber content of oats landed them in second place. They are known for “aiding with digestion, [and which] also helps fight disease, and may lower risk for high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.” No doubt about it, oats are a functional food worthy of the Super Hero Health Food List!
3. Blueberries: If you haven’t heard about the benefits of blueberries, where have you been hiding? They’re full of vitamins C and E, along with other phytonutrients that make them a great functional food.
4. Low-fat milk: The high calcium and vitamin D content put low-fat milk on the list. Calcium and vitamin D are both good for lowering blood pressure and building strong bones.
5. Low-fat yogurt: Not just any low-fat yogurt, but the kinds containing “live and active cultures” that act as probiotics. These living organisms aid in digestion and immune function

There you have it, their list of the top five functional foods. Adding any of these to your diet would be a good way to get more easy healthy food in your diet!

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Top Five Functional Foods In Health Food News

As for more on the “why” these are good foods, consider choline.

Feeding Health Food To Your Neurotransmitters

Neuro what?  Nerve Transmitters, that’s what!  This is the signaling system in your brain, and if the signal ain’t getting out, the memory is shot. 

Neurotrasmitters send the signals that jump from one brain cell to another, and to do that they need a vital brain chemical called acetylcholine.  To make this essential chemical, the body needs a closely related nutritent called choline.

Where In The World Is The Choline?

Where do you find this much needed choline?  In phosphatidylcholine (PC).  How’s that for a mouthful?  Don’t worry, all you need to remember is that once again, you need to be eating:

• fish
• egg yoks
• legumes
• nuts
• meat and
• vegetables.

Vitamins for Manufacturing Brain Food

But you’re only half-way there!  Your body needs certain B vitamins and vitamin C to turn the PC into the needed choline.  Here’s more health foods that make good brain food.

For vitamin C, chow down on

• peppers – red, yellow & green
• citrus fruits and
• cantaloupe.

And for vitamin B, eat some of these

• sweet potatoes
• tuna and
• avocados.

Of course, there are other sources for these needed vitamins!

Eat those whole grains, lean proteins, good fats, vegetables and fruits, and your brain will remember to thank you!

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More Brain Food

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)

DHA and EPA are the most plentiful fatty acids found in the brain. They’re essential to memory, and it’s been found people with Alzheimer’s have low blood levels of these essential fatty acids.

An omega-3 fatty acid, DHA is found in cold water fish such as mackererl, sardines, salmon and herring. Egg yolks are another source of DHA.

Foods such as walnuts, leafy green vegetables and flaxseed contain alpha-linolenic acid, another omega-3 fatty acid. It can be converted by the body to the brain’s needed DHA and EPA.

GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) — Omega-6 Fatty Acids for Brain Food

You need GLA to form healthy brain-cell membranes, which is the part of the cell that stores information. These omega-6 fatty acids are found in vegetable oils such as safflower, sunflower and corn oil. Flaxseed or flaxseed oil is another good source.

So for some easy health food for your brain, eat fish, walnuts, flaxseed, eggs, good vegetable oils and leafy green vegetables.  (Those oils could be used in your salad dressing, for instance!)

This is one case where fat is your friend!

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Fatty Acids Are Health Food For The Brain