TheBREEZE - Sun City Aliante

W W W . S c a l n l V . c O M - T H E B R E E Z E
HEALtH & fItNESS SpECIAL
top 10 (continues from page 22)
Blueberries - contain chemicals called antioxidants that have
been linked to lowering cholesterol levels, encouraging heart
health, and protecting the body against certain types of cancers.
Blueberries contain the phytosterol, pterostilbene, which is similar to
resveratrol, another antioxidant found in grapes and red wine.
Tomatoes - there are many health benefits of tomatoes and
there is one more that could possibly be added to the list --
tomatoes lower cholesterol.
Tomatoes contain many antioxidants, including a chemical called
lycopene. There has been a lot of research investigating tomatoes
and the chemicals contained in them like lycopene. From these
studies, tomatoes have been shown to possess a vast array of healthy
benefits, including macular degeneration and certain cancers.
Studies have also proven that tomatoes may provide healthy effects
on your cholesterol.
Avacado - an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals as
well as the healthy monounsaturated fats and lots of fiber.
In fact, it has more potassium than a banana. Studies have shown
that a diet that includes regular intake of avocadoes can reduce
cholesterol, and we know that diets rich in fiber can reduce your risk
for colon cancer.
Dark Chocolate - a small bar of it everyday can help keep your
heart and cardiovascular system running well.
Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are lower blood pressure
and lower cholesterol. Dark chocolate has also been shown to
reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.
Sources: RealAge, about.com, mayoclinic.com
24 - March 2012