I first discovered superfood benefits when I completed my degree in nursing. I became very interested in healthy eating and kept on coming across articles in my textbooks and online about these foods that can help you become healthier.

What are Superfoods?

You may be wondering, “What is a superfood?” Well a superfood is essentially any food that is particularly rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is usually a type of food that has been scientifically proven to be beneficial to your health and in many cases suggested in studies to help combat certain diseases.

There is no official superfood list, but here is a list of 10 of the best superfoods available:

Berries

Most edible berries have high levels of vitamins and powerful antioxidants. Particularly tasty superfood berries include blackberries, black raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. A study mentioned in the New York Times even discusses how black raspberries have even been linked to preventing oral, esophageal and colon cancers. Berries are great to eat alone but also work well with smoothies or with your morning cereal.

Wild Salmon

Wild salmon is one of the ultimate superfoods, thanks to being extremely high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are believed by many scientists to help lower your chance of cancer, cardiovascular disease, boost your immune system and some studies even suggest that it can help improve your concentration skills and ability to retain information. Salmon is especially enjoyable grilled, but can also be fried, baked and roasted.

Sweet Potatoes

Although plain old russet potatoes often get a bad rap, sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest superfoods known to man. Sweet potatoes contain extremely high levels of beta-carotene which are believed to help prevent cancer. Sweet potatoes also contain generous levels of potassium, protein, calcium and vitamin c. Common sweet potato dishes include sweet potato french fries, sweet potato potato salad, sweet potato pie and sweet potato casserole.

Apples

We’ve all heard the phrase, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and this may be true as apples contain especially large quantities of powerful antioxidants and are very low in calories. Apples are also full of fiber, which can help you feel full quickly making apples a great superfoods for weight loss. Try eating an apple once a day for a couple of weeks and make note if you recognize an improvement in your health and/or any significant weight loss.

Lentils

Another superfood that’s good for weight loss, lentils are rich in resistance starch which can encourage fat to burn more quickly and shrink fat cells. Lentils are also very high in protein and essential amino acids. Typical uses of lentils are in salads, as a side dish and in soup.

Greek Yoghurt

While regular yoghurt can oftentimes be laden with high calorie counts, sugars and unhealthy fats, Greek yoghurt is very good for you. High in protein and calcium, Greek yoghurt can be eaten alone or can be a great accompaniment with cereal or fruits. Greek yoghurt can also be used as a healthy substitute in recipes such as a replacement of eggs and oil in baked goods. A truly versatile superfood, Greek yoghurt is healthy and practical.

Kiwifruit

A large kiwifruit contains more than the average daily quota of recommended vitamin C. What’s more, kiwifruit also contains healthy levels of potassium, vitamin E, flavanoid antioxidants as well as high levels of dietary fiber. Try adding the kiwifruit to your five a day of fruits and vegetables, it’s delicious and clearly very nutritious.

Edamame

You may be used to only eating edamame with your sushi, but edamame is a very healthy green superfood which contains exceptionally high levels of protein as well as manganese and vitamin K. To make edamame extra healthy, try eating it unsalted and eat it as a healthy snack in replacement of the usual chips or cereal bar.

Carrots

One of the tastiest vegetables on the market, carrots are both delicious and very healthy. Carrots are rich in dietary fiber, minerals, folate, iron, calcium and vitamin C. This vegetable is tasty grilled, steamed or roasted and popular carrot recipes include carrot bread, carrot souffle, carrot pie and carrot fritters.

Kale

Kale is one of the best superfoods available because it is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein and sulforaphane. Studies have shown that kale can help fight off depression as well as certain cancers. Kale can be rather bitter eaten raw, but fried or steamed with olive oil, garlic and a smidgen of salt can make for a tasty and of course very healthy snack.

A superfoods diet can help you become healthier and perhaps even be happier. Try to incorporate at least a couple of the above foods into your daily diet, and you should be able to benefit from these top 10 superfoods in no time. Good luck!

This type of exercise gained some steam in the 50′s and 60′s with American bodybuilders, but then gradually died down in popularity until its revival of the last few years. Now many fitness trainers and health professionals alike are hailing the health benefits of kettle bell workouts and they are becoming a prominent piece of equipment in many people’s home gyms.

Here are 5 kettlebell benefits for health and fitness:

 1. Kettle Bells are an Effective Calorie Burner

Certain kettlebell moves can burn up to 21 calories per minute, which is substantially more than most dumbbell or cardio machine workouts will give you. So if you have a hectic schedule such as juggling multiple jobs or finishing your law degree, you can still find time for a quick yet very effective workout by utilizing kettle bell weights.

2. Kettle Bells can Help Ease Back and Neck Ache

If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet all day, such as a registered nurse or restaurant server, you will probably have experienced some kind of body ache. Luckily, recent studies have shown that kettle bell work outs can help ease back and neck ache and also strengthen their muscles. So rather than taking it easy when back and neck ache strikes, try reaching for some kettle bells instead.

3. Kettle Bell Exercises can Incorporate Multiple Muscles

Unlike regular dumbbell reps, using a kettle bell correctly can help tone and strengthen multiple muscles in your body at a time. This can help cut out exercise time and can in turn help you get the results you want a lot faster. A kettlebell workout can therefore give you a cardio and resistance training workout simultaneously.

4. Kettle Bells Can Improve Your Flexibility

If you find yoga or Pilates boring, you will be happy to learn that kettle bell workouts can help improve your flexibility without the need  for long and extended poses that yoga and Pilates typically entail. Many kettlebells workout exercises stretch and elongate muscles which can be great for erasing body aches and also boosting your overall flexibility levels.

5. Kettle Bells Will Strengthen Your Core

Any avid exerciser knows the importance of having a strong core. Luckily kettle bell workouts incorporate all of your ab and many of your back muscles so you will be able to rapidly increase your core strength with this type of workout. A weak core can cause back problems later in life, so kettle bells are a safe and quick way to prevent this from happening.

The kettle bell workout has so many health benefits and fitness wise it can help tone and strengthen your entire body. You will probably want to attend a few classes to get the gist of it before you invest in your own pair of kettlebells but once you’re a seasoned pro you can enjoy working out from the privacy of your home. It may seem like a very difficult workout at first but hang in there – the rewards are more than worth it! Good luck!

Ideas for Healthy School Lunches

The benefits of healthy school lunches simply cannot be underestimate. Healthy, nutritious foods give kids the energy they need to perform well in school, stay focused and grow physically. Here are some great examples of healthy school lunches ideas:

1. Healthy Pita Pizzas! Turn a classically unhealthy lunch favorite into a delicious, nutritious treat! This is one of the best healthy lunch box ideas because kids absolutely gobble it up. Spread marinara sauce on a whole pita, top with low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese and vegetables, such as olives, bell pepper strips, mushrooms, etc., and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

2. Give them something to dip! Dipping foods is one of the fun ways that kids love to eat. Whether it’s carrots into ranch or celery into peanut butter, kids love to dip their foods because it makes eating an interactive experience. Another great dish is to make fruit kebabs with a yogurt dipping sauce, which is healthy, tasty and beautiful. Fill your kids’ healthy lunch boxes with dip-able items and they’ll be coming back for more!

3. Make it pretty! This is one of most popular back to school lunch box ideas because it actually works! Boring, ugly food is not appetizing to adults, and it certainly isn’t appetizing to children. Make healthy food fun and attractive by cutting out healthy sandwiches on whole wheat bread with fun cookie cutter shapes, or labeling whole wheat spaghetti noodles lean turkey meatballs as “Worms and Eyeballs”, to make the whole experience a little more fun. When you’re making healthy school lunches for kids, teenagers or any other age group on the planet, the key is to make the food interesting!

4. Switch it up! You probably would get tired of eating the same thing everyday for lunch, so don’t expect your kids to be any different. If you pack the same peanut butter and honey on whole wheat sandwich each and every day, your kids are bound to get a little tired of seeing the same thing day after day. With so many healthy school lunches recipes available, it is nearly impossible to run out of ideas. Forget ho-hum sandwiches and bags of chips, make healthy food interesting by rotating the foods you pack. One day you can do a nice brown rice and veggie stir-fry and the next a low-fat cheese quesadilla on a whole wheat tortilla, or whatever your child prefers. The key is to avoid monotony.

5. Leftovers are your friends! The key to switching the rotation and keeping the foods exciting and healthy is to incorporate foods from your dinners. If you make healthy, low-fat pizza on whole wheat crust, make a lunch out of a slice or two and a small salad. Healthy, baked chicken and veggies can quickly become a chicken and veggie pasta or sandwich. Chili and cornbread one night can transform into chili with whole wheat macaroni noodles by lunch time! Use leftovers to save time and money,

What are your thoughts? What goes into the best lunch boxes for kids? Let us know in the comments below!

Flag Fruit Salad

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 Minutes
Total time: 40 Minutes

Ingredients:

Blackberries (Thawed):
1 Carton
Blueberries:
1 Carton
Strawberries:
1 Carton
Cherries:
1 Carton
Bananas (Sliced):
2
Lemon juice (To keep bananas from browning):
1/8 tsp.
Sprigs of mint :
A Few

Directions:
Combine the fruit in a big bowl and let sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes in order for the juices to come together and for the mint to lend its flavor to the salad.

What are your favorite Fourth of July recipes?

Call your personal trainer and get your registered dietitian on speed dial because the summer sun is coming quick. If you’re looking for a summer shape up, then consider these tips for the easiest ways to get in shape for summer!

Getting in Shape for Summer

If you’re looking for how to get in shape for summer, here are our tips on how to get the perfect beach body:

1. Start moving! If you find yourself saying, “I want to get in shape,” then you need to start exercising right away. The best way to get in shape quickly is to begin to move your body. Exercising burns calories which can help you drop unwanted pounds. Aim to fit in at least 30-45 minutes of exercise each and every day. Whether you hit the gym for a kick boxing class or go out for a run, find an activity that you actually enjoy and you’ll be more inclined to stick with it.

No gym membership? No problem! You can get in shape at home by using exercise DVD’s or doing your own routine in the comfort of your living room. If you’re wondering how to get beach body ready this year, the answer lies in exercise!

2. Clean your plate! Now, this isn’t an invitation to eat plate fulls of food, but rather to clean up your plate and rid it of the bad foods. Begin filling your plate with healthy items. Getting in shape for the summer starts with exercise, but is determined by food choices.

While there are many diets for summer floating around, the best diet plan is one that focuses on consuming mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. Reducing the amount of sugar and fat in your diet will also be important in helping you get into shape for summer.

It’s time to kick donuts, cake and cookies out of the house and welcome the good-for-you foods that will help you attain your goals.

3. Hit the hay! Getting adequate sleep may not seem like it would effect your efforts to get in shape by summer, but it actually plays a huge role in maintaining a healthy body weight. Lack of sleep not only effects the way you perform and how you feel during the day, but can also halt your weight loss efforts.

Aim to get about 7-8 hours of sleep every night to truly reap the benefits of rejuvenating sleep.

4. Call a friend! If you need motivation to get in shape, then consider enlisting the help of a friend. Getting to the gym is always easier when you know that you have a friend there waiting for you. When you feel like your motivation is dwindling and you want to throw in the towel, having a friend who has the same goals as you can really help keep you on track.

If you don’t have a friend or relative that wants to get into shape with you, then you can always go online and join online weight loss forums. The forums will contain advice, tips and support for you as you make an effort to get healthier!

5. Grab a pen and paper! Keeping a food and exercise journal can be an extremely helpful tool as you get in shape for the summer. Writing down everything you eat, drink and do for exercise will give you a clear and concise picture of where you’re at and any changes you need to make.

Writing down those three doughnuts you ate for breakfast on Sunday morning and seeing it on paper is a great way to stay in shape and help you tweak your diet and caloric intake to reach your goals.

Faced with an overwhelming amount of people and the media telling them this was the new weight loss secret, a lot of people ran to their pantries to throw out every grain of rice, strand of pasta and slice of bread in an effort to lose weight quickly. Some people bought into thinking that low carb diets work, without doing the research to see if it was actually even healthy. A large majority of the nation was convinced that carbs were the source and cause of their unflattering swim suit bodies and the obesity epidemic, but just how much truth is in that?

What are Carbs?

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), carbohydrates are molecules that our bodies use to make glucose which is fuel to complete all of the tasks are bodies are designed to do each and everyday. All carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen molecules, and the basic formula is C_m(H₂O)_n. Essentially, the function of carbohydrates is to give us energy. When we eat them, we are supplying our bodies with energy that it can use immediately or store as glucose in the liver for later use. Our bodies have the ability to burn carbs fast, way faster than the other three building blocks of food (fat and protein), making them the most desirable energy source.

Carbs can be found in a variety of foods such as: fruits, breads, grains and pasta, vegetables, milk and dairy products, and products containing added sugars. Because they are in so many foods and act as an easily broken-down energy source, the importance of carbohydrates simply should not be underestimated. Plainly speaking, we need to eat carbs in order to fuel our bodies and keep them healthy.

Good Carbs, Bad Carbs

Are carbs bad for you? Let carb-lovers rejoice as we answer with a resounding “NO”! However, there are some that are better for you than others. Enter the good carb, bad carb dilemma. Bad carbs are foods that are processed and high in sugar (think cake, cookies, candies, etc.). Good carbs, or complex carbs, are fruit, whole wheat pasta, bread, tortillas, bagels, whole grains like brown rice and barley, oatmeal and vegetables. If you need more guidance, there are plenty of resources online and in health books that would provide a healthy carbs list to make creating a healthy eating plan a little easier. Taking the time to research and educate yourself on good carbs vs bad carbs is the first step to empowering yourself with the knowledge to make healthier, wiser nutritional decisions.

Instead of going on a low carbohydrate diet, it would be better to focus on consuming the right kind! Try to rid your diet of excess sugar that can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels, add pounds due to empty calories and contribute to diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Aim to fill your plates with fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains and lean proteins! Carbs are good for you and there is no reason to avoid them when you are choosing the right ones.

A Day of Healthy Carbs

Here is a sample menu of a healthy diet incorporating good carbs:

Breakfast- 1 slice whole wheat bread with a tablespoon all natural peanut butter, a banana and a glass of skim milk.

Lunch- Spinach salad with grilled chicken, chopped vegetables and kidney beans with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack - Red bell pepper strips with 1/4 cup of hummus.

Dinner - Grilled halibut fillet, 1 baked sweet potato, steamed broccoli and a whole wheat dinner roll.

Something about the summer sun, the open road, the beckoning coast and the pursuit of the best ice cream cone gets our engines going. But gas station grub and fast food along the way can really put a damper on healthy eating habits.

If you are passionate about nutrition and fitness, you should check out the various dietitian programs available or enroll in a personal trainer certification program today!

Don’t worry, there is healthy road trip food! These healthy road trip food ideas will leave your car mates full, happy and healthy. The best road trip snacks will keep you energized for the drive and ready for any twists and turns in the road. Packing these snacks for a road trip will be way better than stopping every couple miles for junk food!

Grab a cooler and fill it with ice and stash these favorites:

• Fruit- Obviously, avoiding the greasy chips and fatty doughnuts at the gas station is a smart idea. Consuming salty foods can easily make you exceed your sodium intake per day. Replace those belly busters with fresh fruits and vegetables. Apples, bananas, oranges, grapefruit…things with a natural covering are ideal for road grub. Pre-cut watermelon slices, strawberries, peaches and nectarines are good road trip foods that are healthy. Also, grapes are great because they are delicious, healthy and easy to pop in your mouths like chips.
• Veggies- Carrot sticks, celery, sliced bell pepper strips and cherry tomatoes are all fantastic options for the long car ride. If the kids won’t eat plain veggies, then fill some celery sticks with peanut butter and put them in a baggie for easy access. Also, bring along some hummus for dipping or mix up an easy veggie dip by mixing low-fat cream cheese, low-fat sour cream and ranch dressing seasoning mix. Be sure to put all of these healthy road trip snacks for kids in the cooler.
• Low-fat Cheese and Whole-Wheat Crackers- Pre-slice some cheese to pair with whole wheat crackers to refuel on the road. These are good road trip snacks because they are very satisfying and the fiber from the crackers will keep your hunger at bay. Healthy road trip snacks should include low-fat dairy, like in cheeses, which provides a good source of calcium.
• Nuts- Although they are high in calories, nuts provide essential vitamins and minerals and healthy fats to keep your heart healthy. Opt for natural, unsalted almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans or peanuts. The healthy fats will provide you with a feeling of satiety and are a yummy treat.
• Low-fat Pudding and Sugar-Free Jello- It’s easy to think that road trip snacks that are healthy are hard to come by, but if you take the time to prepare before the trip, it is super simple! Pack some low-fat pudding cups and sugar-free jello in the cooler for a sweet treat along the way. Word to wise: DON’T FORGET THE SPOONS!
• Beef Jerky- Low in fat and high in protein, this is one of the best healthy road trip snacks. Try to get the reduced sodium kind. Even turkey jerky is really delicious and the protein boost will keep you satisfied.

Chomping on healthy road trip foods will make a big difference in the way you feel in the car which will make your trip a lot more enjoyable! These healthy road trip ideas for snacks and meals will save you time, money and calories! Have fun road trippin’ this summer!

Taking a Look at Painbalance.org

Responsive Health works tirelessly to provide you with reliable information regarding optimal, healthy living. As a part of that endeavor, we invite you to review PainBalance.org for information about pain, chronic pain, and pain management. Whether you’re a patient, or a caregiver, their information about Pain Management and Chronic Pain Relief is sure to prove useful.

PainBalance covers all aspects of pain and pain relief, including both medical and holistic therapies. Their site contains videos that explain how the body generates pain and responds to pain signals. They also offer specific guidelines for clinicians and healthcare professionals involved in the pain management process. Here’s a quick overview of the Painbalance website.

Pain Categories and Treatment

Painbalance refers to pain as “the fifth vital sign” in its introduction to different kinds of pain. Painbalance thoroughly identifies the problem of pain, various types (back pain, joint pain, etc.) and provides information regarding potential treatments.

All of the site’s information is free of charge, though its value delivered to pain relief specialists and patients is high. In well-written, accessible language, a simple analysis and breakdown of the many topics is provided, resulting in a complete understanding of the body’s response to pain.

PainBalance provides a concise summary of the important elements for each type of pain, along with symptom prevention information and practical pain relief treatments.

Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain

These pages are a great example of PainBalance’s ability to reduce highly detailed and complicated information down to easily digested material. Each of the main stages in the pain process is identified, from Transduction through Perception, and a video is provided to visually illustrate exactly how each of these stages progress.

On the Management of Neuropathic Pain page, the vivid 3-D animations illustrate the impact of pain, along with explaining its effects on the body, and the healing process. These videos serve as introductions to the biological processes behind Neuropathic and Nociceptive Pain.

Educational Animations in 3D

PainBalance’s 3-D animated videos are perhaps the best resource available on the site, especially for the non-clinician. They are engaging and highly informative, as well as entertaining, especially for people interested in understanding the biological underpinnings of pain.

The videos are also focused solely on the types of complex pain. For example, there is a video on neuropathic pain that reveals to its sufferers why their pain symptoms are so difficult to diagnose. Painbalance’s use of multimedia propels them above other sites with similar information. Hopefully we will see this video section grow right along with the ever-growing pursuit of the understanding of pain.

Narrative Scenarios and Treatment Options

These two pages, and their sub-sections, provide remedies for the types of pain listed. A quick summary of all of the basic and holistic treatment options available (Opiods, Clinician tools, etc.) is also provided. It is fairly straightforward and proves to be an integral part of the website.

The narrative scenarios page is helpful in clearing up any confusion in dealing with or identifying the many different types of pain symptoms. The required steps for diagnosis are provided in each scenario, along with treatment and solutions. The scenarios reveal the website’s utility for patients, but also for doctors, medical professionals and scholars, as well. It is a valuable tool for diagnosis of medical symptoms that would be useful for increased perspective, if not for finding a path to a cure.

Chronic Pain Management Guidelines

Chronic Pain Management Guidelines from each of the many pain-related research and advocacy organizations are presented in this section. The guidelines from each organization are slightly different, reflecting PainBalance’s assertion that “there is currently no single, comprehensive, widely accepted set of guidelines for all categories of pain”. This section is mostly targeted to Healthcare industry professionals, but could prove useful for patients or students looking to understand the proper procedures for managing and treating the many different types of pain.

Overall

Along with a series of other interesting and useful pages, including a complete section on REMS (risk assessment) and the Pathophysiology of Pain, the PainBalance website is a solid compliment to our own. It is a comprehensive resource for Pain Patients and Pain Relief Specialists that is offers complex information in an easily accessible way. Our staff highly recommends that you visit PainBalance at www.painbalance.org.

Responsive Health Scores-

Reliability of Information -9/10

Usefulness- 8/10

Ease of Understanding – 7/10

Total Average Score – 8.3/10

1. Sugar free jello [0 carbs]. You can buy premade sugar free jello cups to take to work or on a trip for sweet low carb snacks, or you can make the jello yourself and add club soda. Add a little whipped cream for extra flavor! Whipped cream is typically 1 carb or less per tablespoon.
2. Cheese [0 carbs]. Most cheeses are 0 carbs per serving. Ralphs had garlic cheese last week for 0 carbs that came with a fantastic kick, and sweeter cheeses are definitely available too. Make sure to check the packaging before purchasing though, because some cheeses may have a smidgen of carbs in them depending on what they’re made of.
3. Sugar free popsicles [4 carbs]. While a popsicle’s 4 carbs might seem a bit extraneous for it’s size, the perks of popsicles as sweet low carb treats are how slowly you can eat them (if you’re not biting!) and the freezing feeling in your mouth after you’re done. You’ll find that you won’t want to get up for seconds.
4. Dill pickles [1 carb per 3 large slices]. Pickles can be eaten alone or added to a lettuce-wrapped burger with cheese for extra flavor!
5. Grapes [7.4 net carbs per 1/2 cup]. Half a cup of grapes might not sound like a lot, but they’re wonderful cool and sweet low carb snacks if you eat them marginally on a hot day. Try freezing them for an hour to make miniature grape popsicles. There’s also added health benefits to eating grapes.
6. Lemons [3.8 net carbs per lemon]. If you’re not interested in biting straight into a lemon, consider taking wedges and squeezing them into your water throughout the day. The more water you drink, the fuller you’ll feel!
7. Strawberries [1.7 net carbs per 1/4 cup]. You’re normally looking at around 1 carb per strawberry. If you cut the strawberry up into smaller pieces, you can enjoy it longer. Like grapes, you have to eat it marginally, but it they’re excellent sweet low carb treats in moderation!
8. Eggs [1/2 carb per egg]. You can cook eggs and add a touch of salsa or low carb ketchup for an amazing snack.
9. Sesame seed crackers [1 net carb per cracker]. This recipe makes cheese sesame crackers that can be eaten by themselves or with a spread. Delicious!
10. Oven-baked cheese crisps [less than 1 carb]. If you’re looking for a substitute for croutons, or want to make a tiny cup to fill with other low carb goodies, try this recipe out!
11. Sugar free dried cranberries [6 carbs per 3 oz]. Another recipe that’s sure to delight, with lots of fiber. Try it with agave instead of sugar to further lower the carb count.
12. Sweet alcohol [0 carbs]. Whiskey, rum, and other 80% proof hard liquors have 0 carbs, though they’re higher in calories. Add a shot to a diet coke when you feel like having a desert cheat. If you go out with friends to a bar, consider a long island ice tea, at roughly one carb per ounce. This is sort of a cheat, since you’re supposed to avoid alcohol, but it’s a good last resort for your sweet low carb snacks.

If you’re unsure of the advantages and disadvantages of a low carb diet, or you’ve heard mixed opinions, check out this article.

1. Prevent heart disease. A study from the Journal of Nutrition showed that eating fresh grapes could prevent the accumulation of harmful oxidized cholesterol and atherosclerotic lesions. This means less coronary heart disease from plaque build up on the walls of your arteries. The polyphenol called “resveratrol” in the grape skin breaks down bad cholesterol. It can also be found in grape juice, grape jelly, and wine.
2. Fight illness. Grapes are high in another polyphenol called “tannin.” Canadian scientists discovered that tannin eliminated disease-forming viruses in test tubes; tannins move into the intestinal tract and protect from viruses and tumors alike.
3. Fight  cancer. Grapes have a high level of caffeic acid. Caffeic acid helps fight cancer. Read more about this in Johanna Brandt’s book, The Grape Cure.
4. Prevent brain damage from strokes. Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia show that grapes prevent brain damage in the event of a stroke.
5. Boost brain activity. Grapes have a significant amount of potassium and increase brain activity.
6. Boost metabolism. Grapes have a light laxative effect that boosts metabolism. A handful of grapes can do wonders for dieting.
7. Increase calorie burning. As grapes clean out your cholesterol and intestines and strengthen your heart, they increase your blood flow and help with calorie burning. They compliment workouts very well.
8. Enhance endurance. Grapes flush the system out and make it more active for longer; don’t worry about exhausting yourself as quickly with your workout when you have grapes on your side!
9. Helps stave off tuberculosis. Patients in the first stage of tuberculosis are told to include a higher amount of grapes in their diet.
10. Grapes are mostly water. Grapes are anywhere from 65-85% water, which means low calories and high hydration.

Of course, it’s fair to mention one cautionary factor about grapes: they’re no good for a mouth with cavities. Make sure to rinse your mouth out with mouth wash after consumption, especially if you have cavities for the grape juice to eat away at.

Try one of these three exciting recipes to add grapes to breakfast, lunch, and dinner:

Breakfast: Lemon Yogurt

Whip 1/2 pound of low fat yogurt with a tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/3 pound of grapes. Enjoy!

Lunch: Grape Pancakes

• Mix 2-3 tablespoons of flour, 1/2 glass of water of water and one egg. Make a few pancakes.
• Wrap the pancakes around 1/4 pound of low fat cottage cheese, 1 tablespoon of mineral water, and 2 oz of grapes.
• Sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Dinner: Rice with Shrimps and Grapes

• Boil 5 tablespoons of rice. Add 1/4 pound of grapes.
• Fry 5-6 shrimps with olive oil and put them on top of rice mixed with grapes.