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The Top 5 Superfoods for Women of Any Age

Cranberries
They earn super status for their ability to help fight off nasty urinary tract infections. About 10 ounces of juice a day does the trick. Plus, recent research shows that cranberries might also help fend off colds and fight stomach bugs, gum disease, and certain types of cancer. Add a little unsweetened cranberry juice to smoothies, and sprinkle some dried berries into cereal and muffin mix.

Walnuts
These nuts are rich in omega-3s, which help reduce inflam-mation and increase good cholesterol. They may even help with depression and reduce your risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Top your salad with 1/4 cup or try them in pesto.

Beans
The humble legume may prevent heart disease and help head off colon cancer. Rich in two heart-friendly phytochemicals, beans are packed with magnesium, potassium, folate, and fiber. Get a 1/2 cup five to six times per week by adding canned kidney and garbanzo beans (rinse and drain first) to salads, burritos, and dips.

Fish
Studies show that eating seafood rich in omega-3s at least twice a week could reduce your risk of heart disease. And the reports say women of childbearing age and nursing mothers can safely eat as much as 12 ounces of seafood a week if they avoid high-mercury swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel; albacore tuna should be limited to 6 ounces a week.

Tomatoes
Loaded with the antioxidant lycopene, tomatoes and ?cooked tomato products pack a big health punch (at 32 milligrams, 1 cup of spaghetti sauce serves up the day’s recommended intake). Studies show that women with lycopene-rich diets can have as much as a 50 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer. The antioxidant can also lower your blood pressure and bad cholesterol, and may even reduce your risk of getting macular degeneration and a host of cancers.

By Joan Raymond

Last Updated: July 17, 2009
Filed Under: Nutrition and Eating Well
Also Tagged: , , , ,
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Comments (27)

The following content represents the opinions of Health.com users. It is not editorially reviewed for medical or factual accuracy. It does not constitute medical advice. See your doctor for medical advice.
  • LJ

    Good Information. I always thought almonds were the preferred nut.

  • cheryl

    Agree with LJ also – thought it was almonds!
    Very informative, thank you so much for this!

  • CT

    Thank you so much for this wonderful article! :-)

    I am certain that you have just helped to save the lives of countless women!

  • Denny

    I found it very interesting that walnuts reduce inflamation!

  • Joyce Daniel

    Thank you! Thought almonds too!

  • Joyce Daniel

    Thank you!
    Thought almonds was the great ones too!
    Walnuts it is….

  • Bettie

    Cranberries and juice is quite good for you, but be careful if you have kidney stones. Cranberry juice makes them worse. Check with your urologist.

  • Tracy Kemmer

    I know that cranberry juice and cranberries are good to prevent UTI’s but they give me such heart burn. The acidity is awful to me, Yuck. Not to good tasting either.
    Love Walnuts. Sprinkle them on cereal or put into pancakes yummy.

  • cherry williams

    Yes I always thought tomatoes was very good now they are great,great news……

  • JJ

    Both nuts are good. But are we so sure walnuts are preferable over almonds? Tomorrow another of these studies will tout almonds over walnuts. I like both, I just like almonds better. I buy raw almonds (the pre-measured handful-a-day sachets at Trader Joe’s…Yum.

  • JJ

    …and 12 oz of seafood a week? I eat more fish than that in a day, and I eat Fish at least 4 times a week. Does anybody know what kind of problem(s) may arise from eating so much fish? I’ve lost quite a bit of weight by eating just fish and lean chicken breast.

  • phoebe

    thanks for the information. i never really thought of walnuts and beans as part of my diet.

  • Terry

    I mix walnuts, almonds, and raisins together then put them on a salad. The best of all!

  • Terry

    I mix walnuts, almonds and raisins together then add them to a salad. The best of all!

  • Mable Lindsey

    Is eating cereal with Fat-free lactaid a good breakfast to help loose weight.

  • Vicky Cherol

    Be careful with cranberries if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. They contain high levels of alcohol and not enough is known about them to be considered safe during these times.

  • LT

    To JJ: There is a risk of eating too much fish, you might go to another web site and see what the daily (weekly) recommended is.

  • Sunsurfer

    I am finding it hard to believe that Fish story! I think it is a Big one!

  • Sunsurfer

    Open to comments! :-) Not being beligerent!

  • lil2sis

    Fish has mercury in it. To much is not good for you.

  • margaret

    I’M THANKFUL AND BLESSED TO RECIEVE SUCH VALUABLE INFOMATION I DO KNOW FROM EATING MANY OF THE HELPINGS THAT ARE LISTED THEY HELP ME.

  • Healthy Woman

    Regarding Lycopene: I recently read another good article called Lycopene and Women’s Health. It discusses the various sources of lycopene including not only tomatoes, but also rose hips, saffron and sea buckthorn. It also describes the benefits of Lycopene for women’s health including breast health, ovarian & cervical health, cardiovascular health, vision health, pregnancy health, and longevity.

    Regarding Fish Safety: On the subject of the safety of fish, there’s a good article called Wild Salmon vs Farmed Salmon that discusses toxic levels of farmed raised fish. There is also a great link in this article to an ecological website that ranks the safety level of all types of fish.

  • Women Health Diet

    Hi Joan Raymond, you have written correctly about the diet for any age of women. From your lists – Fish and Beans are the best food for pregnant women.

    Thanks
    http://healthsuggestion.wordpress.com/

  • jill

    Do these same five foods benifit men as well? Thanks for all the great comments.

  • s richardson

    darn i don’t like walnuts, i love almonds though.

  • Judy

    If you have an ARTIFICIAL VALVE (Heart)cranberries are forbidden because of high vitamin K content, and I just saw an artical saying tomatoes also have a high V. K content…If you take Coumaden or Warferin (not sure of spelling) be very careful , dangerous

  • Rommie

    It discusses the various sources of lycopene including not only tomatoes, but also rose hips, saffron and sea buckthorn. It also describes the benefits of Lycopene for women’s health including breast health.

    Regards,
    alt=”Healthy Living”>

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