Steve Haywood Health & Fitness

We have brought together some of the best superfoods for maintaining a balanced diet and getting those all important active ingredients with antioxidants, anti-coagulants and antibiotic properties. Check the list below for easy ways of improving your diet:

Beetroot Juice

Helps reduce blood pressure, is rich in iron, boron and folic acid and contains those all important antioxidants. A glass of beetroot juice counts as one portion of your 5 a day. Worldwide there are estimated to be one billion people affected by high blood pressure (National Institute of Health 2003). Anything that goes towards a healthy and varied diet, low in sugar and salt, is an improvement. Beetroot juice can form part of a healthy and more natural diet. James White branded juices don’t use juice from concentrate. They simply put in pressed apple and beetroot juice.

How does it taste?

“Surprisingly like beetroots! The apple juice takes the edge off what might seem a savoury juice. It’s refreshing and best served cool.” Linda

“Tastes like you should have to chew it.” Rob

“It’s best to have the equivalent of a small wine glass full and it isn’t always what you fancy early in the morning!” Steve

Consult your doctor if you have any health concerns or are currently suffering from high blood pressure.

Where to buy?

Morrisons stock it and James White have a website www.jameswhite.co.uk

Garlic

Thins your blood and acts as an antibiotic. I have one account of a Slovakian soldier using it to ward off colds whilst doing national service. Also rumoured to prevent against vampire attacks.

This from the National Institute of Health:

- Some evidence indicates that taking garlic can slightly lower blood cholesterol levels; studies have shown positive effects for short-term (1 to 3 months) use. However, an NCCAM-funded study on the safety and effectiveness of three garlic preparations (fresh garlic, dried powdered garlic tablets, and aged garlic extract tablets) for lowering blood cholesterol levels found no effect.

-Preliminary research suggests that taking garlic may slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a condition that can lead to heart disease or stroke.

- Evidence is mixed on whether taking garlic can slightly lower blood pressure.

- Some studies suggest consuming garlic as a regular part of the diet may lower the risk of certain cancers. However, no clinical trials have examined this. A clinical trial on the long-term use of garlic supplements to prevent stomach cancer found no effect. Read the rest of the evidence here.

Garlic is great in cooking and the French have built most of their recipes around it. It’s best to avoid garlic after major surgery as thin blood doesn’t clot as well.

Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient food native to the Andean region of Central America. It was prized by Inca warriors for increasing their stamina. Although it is cooked like a grain, botanically it is actually a seed. Like grains, it is a good source of complex carbohydrates. However, it has a greater protein content than most grains, and unlike other grains, contains plenty of amino acids needed for a balanced, healthy diet.

Quinoa is a great alternative for people with celiac disease who cannot consume all foods. Quinoa is high on the list of super-healthy alternatives to grains.

Spinach

Popeye’s favourite, spinach is great for a number of reasons. Rich in iron, calcium and folate. 1 cup of raw spinach provides around 15% of your daily folate needs click here for more information. Folate is water-soluble vitamin A.

The iron in spinach can help vegetarians to maintain their iron intake and prevent aneamia (where your body doesn’t have enough iron to make red blood cells, leaving you sluggish). Other people normally get enough iron from red meat.

Pomegranate Juice

Is supposed to be really high in antioxidants - combine them with blueberriesfor a super-anitoxidant smoothy.

Buying Vitamin Supplements online

Many of the vitamins and minerals mentioned above can be purchased as supplements in tablet form. They can be ordered online from several retailers and are then delivered straight to your door. It’s always wise to consult your doctor if there is any uncertainty about your health. Click here for information about taking supplements safely. Some supplements, such as folic acid for pregnant women, are extremely useful.

Below are a list of online vitamin retailers who can deliver vitamin and mineral supplements to your door. It’s always worth bearing in mind the cost of delivery and the information that the suppliers can give you about the supplement: