Ever wonder why doctors, nutritionists, exercise gurus, and others, tell us to eat certain foods, that they’re good for us? Well someone who works with my husband passed along the following list, which takes the mystery out of their recommendation. And so I post it here for you to incorporate into your life, and share it with those you care about, just as… I care about you…hugmamma.

• Apples – protects your heart, prevents constipation, blocks diarrhea, improves lung capacity, cushions joints
• Apricots – combats cancer, controls blood pressure, saves your eyesight, shields against Alzheimer’s, slows aging process
• Artichokes – aids digestion, lowers cholesterol, protects your heart, stabilizes blood sugar, guards against liver disease
• Avocados – battles diabetes, lowers cholesterol, helps stops strokes, controls blood pressure, smooths skin
• Bananas – protects your heart, quiets a cough, strengthens bones, controls blood pressure, blocks diarrhea
• Beans – prevents constipation, helps hemorrhoids, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, stabilizes blood sugar
• Beets – controls blood pressure, combats cancer, strengthens bones, protects your heart
• Blueberries – combats cancer, protects your heart, stabilizes blood sugar, boosts memory, prevents constipation
• Broccoli – strengthens bones, saves eyesight, combats cancer, protects your heart, controls blood pressure
•  Cabbage – combats cancer, prevents constipation, promotes weight loss, protects your heart, helps hemorrhoids
• Cantaloupe – saves eyesight, controls blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, supports immune system
• Carrots – saves eyesight, protects your heart, prevents constipation, combats cancer, promotes weight loss
• Cauliflower – protects against prostate cancer, combats breast cancer, strengthens bones, banishes bruises, guards against heart disease
• Cherries – protects your heart, combats cancer, ends insomnia, slows aging process, shields against Alzheimer’s
• Chestnuts – promotes weight loss, protects your heart, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, controls blood pressure
• Chili Peppers – aids digestion, soothes sore throat, clears sinuses, combats cancer, boosts immune system
• Figs – promotes weight loss, helps stop strokes, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, controls blood pressure
• Fish – protects your heart, boosts memory, combats cancer, supports immune system
• Flax – aids digestion, battles diabetes, protects your heart, improves mental health, boosts immune system
• Garlic – lowers cholesterol, controls blood pressure, combats cancer, kills bacteria, fights fungus
• Grapefruit – protects against heart attacks, promotes weight loss, helps stop strokes, combats prostate cancer, lowers cholesterol
• Grapes – saves eyesight, conquers kidney stones, combats cancer, enhances blood flow, protects your heart
• Green tea – combats cancer, protects your heart, helps stop strokes, promotes weight loss, kills bacteria
• Honey – heals wounds, aids digestion, guards against ulcers, increases energy, fights allergies
• Lemons – combats cancer, protects your heart, controls blood pressure, smooths skin, stops scurvy
• Limes – combats cancer, protects your heart, controls blood pressure, smooths skin, stops scurvy
• Mangoes – combats cancer, boosts memory, regulates thyroid, aids digestion, shields against Alzheimer’s
• Mushrooms – controls blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, kills bacteria, combats cancer, strengthens bones
• Oats – lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, battles diabetes, prevents constipation, smooths skin
• Olive Oil – protects your heart, promotes weight loss, combats cancer, battles diabetes, smooths skin
• Onions – reduce risk of heart attack, combats cancer, kills bacteria, lowers cholesterol, fights fungus
• Oranges – supports immune systems, combats cancer, protects your heart
• Peaches – prevents constipation, combats cancer, helps stop strokes,aids digestion, helps hemorrhoids
• Peanuts – protects against heart disease, promotes weight loss, combats prostate cancer, lowers cholesterol, aggravates diverticulitis
• Pineapple – strengthens bones, relieves colds, aids digestion, dissolves warts, blocks diarrhea
• Prunes – slows aging process, prevents constipation, boosts memory, lowers cholesterol, protects against heart disease
• Rice – protects your heart, battles diabetes, conquers kidney stones, combats cancer, helps stops strokes
• Strawberries – combats cancer, protects your heart, boosts memory, calms stress
• Sweet Potatoes – saves your eyesight, lifts mood, combats cancer, strengthens bones
• Tomatoes – protects prostrate, combats cancer, lowers cholesterol, protects your heart
• Walnuts – lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, boosts memory, lifts mood, protects against heart disease
• Water – promotes weight loss, combats cancer, conquers kidney stones, smooths skin
• Watermelon – protects prostate, promotes weight loss, lowers cholesterol, helps stop strokes, controls blood pressure
• Wheat germ – combats colon cancer, prevents constipation, lowers cholesterol, helps stop strokes, improves digestion
• Wheat Bran – combats colon cancer, prevents constipation, lowers cholesterol, helps stop strokes, improves digestion
• Yogurt – guards against ulcers, strengthens bones, lowers cholesterol, supports immune system, aids digestion (Lemon yogurt is the only one that is a natural anti-biotic with NO side effects.)

As with anything, proceed with caution. The information provided appears to be valid, but we must each consider our own diets, allergies, restrictions. One size does not necessarily fit all. I think I’ve heard that grapefruits should not be consumed by someone on Lipitor, a statin to lower cholesterol. Honey increases energy because it contains sugar. Tomatoes belong to the “night family” of veggies, along with green peppers and its relatives. Some people are allergic to them. And not all fish are created equal. The best options seem to be salmon, tuna, sardine, and halibut. Peanuts consumed in great quantities can be fattening because of its calories. (Something I must be particularly wary about.) A friend feasted on seedless grapes and aggravated her diverticulitis. Evidently the seed piths were still present, so they lodged in the lining of her intestines causing excruciating pain. So beware!

I’ve concocted my own diet of sorts based, in part, upon information gleaned from “The Perricone Prescription” by New York dermatologist, Dr. Nicholas Perricone. I read the book cover to cover on a flight home from spending 3 weeks with my daughter at a dance program in Martha’s Vineyard. By the time my plane landed, I was a believer in Dr. Perricone’s theory that “Inflammation is a probable culprit, a contributor to most major diseases and degenerative conditions, from cancer to Alzheimer’s, arthritis to stroke. Proinflammatory diets, exposure to sunlight, environmental pollutants, and a host of other agents assault our cells and cause them to generate inflammatory chemicals. This subclinical inflammation goes on day after day, year in and year out, leading to numerous disease states as well as the disease of aging. Yes, aging is a disease–a chronic, uniformly progressive, inflammatory disease that is always fatal. …I explain how inflammation occurs on a cellular level and detail my search for powerful anti-inflammatories–antioxidants that stop inflammation and repair the damage. If you can prevent and stop inflammation, you can prevent and stop the signs of aging.” Dr. Perricone goes on to say that “Sugar causes inflammation…”

I tried Perricone’s diet for 3 weeks, but couldn’t remain on it because it was so restrictive for me. Nonetheless the information he imparted made a lot of sense, and so I’m still a believer. Sugar causes inflammation; extra-virgin olive oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory food; trans fats are dangerous to my health; the risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancers can be lowered by eating fish, and their omega-3 fatty acids reduces the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. And green tea does ramp up my metabolism, as does alpha-lipoic acid supplements.

Along with Perricone’s book, I’ve adapted much of what is contained in “The Anti-Alzheimer’s Diet” by California neuroscientist, Dr. Vincent Fortanasce. Because of him, I eat blueberries most days, fresh or frozen. “If free radical damage causes aging, then ingesting antioxidants in high enough quantities should be able to slow aging. Ironically, you don’t have to eat tons of foods high in antioxidants to slow down brain aging! For instance, studies have shown that eating just 3/4 cup blueberries per day can turn back the clock dramatically.” Fortanasce adds “Berries, including blueberries…are filled with anthocyanins,…that…sweep out, harmful free-radical molecules that trigger inflammation…studies show that antioxidant filled berries help fight against aging problems, such as short-term memory loss. Dark blue and purple berries also are linked to a significant reversal in motor dysfunction that correlates with aging and dopamine deficiency.”

hoping this may help…hugmamma.