Lists like these are dime a dozen on the web. Powerfoods, superfoods - doesn’t matter what they’re called, they always seemed to contain the same old good stuff which regular FM readers already stock their larders with. Whole grain foods, check. Peanut Butter, check. Dairy, check.

So why another list? Because this one is a little different. After all, there’s a reason it’s called “The 10 best foods you aren’t eating” with “aren’t” being the key operative word. These are not the common “good foods everyone is talking about and that’s why it makes for interesting reading. Included in this list is stuff like Swiss Chard, Cinnamon and Goji Berries (not really your weekly grocery list, are they!).

Here’s what the article has to say about beets for example:

Think of beets as red spinach. Just like Popeye’s powerfood, this crimson vegetable is one of the best sources of both folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower your blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. Plus, the natural pigments-called betacyanins-that give beets their color have been proved to be potent cancer fighters in laboratory mice.

Wow. The FM household already loves beets, but now we’ll love it just a little bit more!

Read all about The 10 best foods you aren’t eating and start cracking on a new list of tasty foods that are actually good for you!

Technorati Tags: health, nutrition, foods

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This question about serving sizes (especially for almonds) is probably one of the most frequently asked one that bring users to FitnessMantra and although this is answered in parts in the comments section of my Almonds post, I figured I would address it directly in this QnA post so it’s easier for people to find the answer.

QnA #2: What Is The Serving Size For Almonds, Walnuts And Other Nuts?

Typically, the serving size for nuts is 1 oz and you can’t go wrong if you restrict yourself to this amount for a variety of healthful nuts, chief among which are almonds and walnuts.

In the case of almonds, this amounts to about 20-25 medium sized almonds whereas for walnuts, the quantity closely matches the size of one whole walnut shell. I have featured these two “powerhouse” nuts earlier and if you review their individual posts again (links: almonds, walnuts), you will notice that a typical serving size of 1 oz of these nuts will provide you with around 160-180 high-quality calories with between 4 and 6 g of protein and a sizable amount of good-fats (mostly mono-unsaturated fats). In addition almonds are a superb source of the anti-oxidant Vitamin E, while walnuts pack on heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants like melatonin and ellagic acid.

Updated: NutNutrition has pictures of what an 1oz of nuts looks like for different varieties of nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews and pistachios. Nothing like seeing it in pictures rather than words! (Disclosure: The NutNutrition site is sponsored by Planters Nuts so look out for Mr.Peanut!)

As always, when it comes to nuts the key is moderation: fats, whether good or not, are still fats - and fats are calorie-dense. Since you only know too well where excess calories go (between the last belt-buckle-hole and eternity!), do try to restrict yourself to about 1 oz and avoid the salted or oil-roasted variety which can really pack on sodium or additional unwanted calories.

Nuts should really form an essential part of your daily fitness-oriented diet - I can tell you it does in mine.

So just go nuts!

Technorati Tags: health, nutrition, serving size, almonds, walnuts, nuts

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