Maroon Weekly

Food for Thought

Hello avid athletes! As we near the second month of the New Year, I hope that all of your fitness resolutions are still sticking. To help you in your goals, I have picked three foods for discussion that are delicious and good for you. If you already eat these foods that is great; Keep up your workout plan and strive for those goals. If you do not eat these foods then you should pick some up next time you are at the grocery store. Nutrition is just as important as exercising when considering overall health.

Pomegranates:

According to pomegranates.org, these tasty little bundles of health “are high in vitamin C and potassium, are a good source of fiber and are low in calories”. Pomegranates are slightly tricky to eat, so drinking the juice is an easier and more highly chosen option. Pomegranate juice is high in three different types of polyphenols, a potent form of antioxidants. The three types – tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid – are present in many fruits, but pomegranate juice contains particularly high amounts of all three. As antioxidants, they are credited with helping in the prevention of cancer and heart disease. You receive 20% of your needed daily fiber in ½ cup of pomegranate seeds.

When choosing your perfect pomegranate, look at the skin. According to www.pomegranates.org, it should be thin, tough, and unbroken, indicating the flavor is well developed.

Avocadoes:

Avocadoes are proof that a food does not have to be low in fat to help you lose weight.  Instead, it needs to have the right kind of fat.  Avocadoes contain more than 25 of the essential nutrients.  When you eat an avocado you’re getting B vitamins, potassium, vitamin E, and lutein. Try adding avocado slices to sandwiches, salads, or just eat some guacamole!

When choosing an avocado, look for dark green ones that are slightly soft when squeezed. The easier they are to squeeze, then the sooner you need to eat them.

Almonds:

According to (bestdietfoods.net, of all the nuts, almonds are the most nutritional.  Have a handful of almonds in the morning during breakfast to give you energy for the rest of the day.  They are also great to replace any unhealthy snack foods which are standing in the way of your weight loss goals. If you are a chocolate addict and absolutely cannot give up your precious chocolate in your diet then don’t worry! Dark chocolate-covered almonds should become your new best friend. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants and almonds are a great source of protein. A chocolate snack that is good for- what could be better?

Make an effort to include healthy snacks and foods into your diet. Remember, small changes lead to big results!