Ten health promoting springtime superfoods

Springtime is alive with an exciting sense of renewal and the promise of new beginnings.

As the darkness and cold of winter comes to an end, new life begins to flourish and revel in sunlight.

Seasonal foods and produce begin to appear at the local grocery market, making it a shopper’s paradise.

Some of the healthiest foods are available at this time of the year and health conscious shoppers with smiles on their faces are eager to fill their grocery carts with the delicious and wholesome springtime bounty.  A superfood is a food product that can be included in a meal or eaten by itself while providing supplement-like benefits and Health.com highlights their top 10 superfood choices for spring.

• Walnuts: Packed with tryptophan, this amino acid is a natural mood stimulator and raises levels of the brains serotonin.
• Asparagus: Loaded with folate, it helps synthesize the brain’s neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.
• Garlic: Garlic contains allicin which stimulates the brain creating a sense of satiety, which helps to control weight.
• Legumes: Beans contain high levels of fiber, creating a sense of fullness. They also take time to metabolize in the body, expending increased levels of energy through the digestive process.
• Spinach: A great source for naturally occurring iron, which helps to stimulate oxygen production in the red blood cells.
• Artichokes: Loaded with magnesium, they help to encourage the generation of the body’s natural energy.
• Salmon: Containing a form of omega-3 fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), they help prevent sagging skin and wrinkles. Salmon also stimulates skin hydration.
• Strawberries: Loaded with antioxidants, strawberries are packed with vitamin C. Excellent for the skin, strawberries help repair skin damaged by UV rays. Not only are strawberries delicious to eat, they make an excellent homemade facial because of their alpha-hydroxy acid.
• Eggs: Egg yolks are full of choline, a brain-friendly nutrient. Encouraging the stimulation of acetylcholine, which is critical for healthy memory.
• Blueberries: Blueberries are known for stimulating brain function while reducing age-related decline in memory. Containing anthocyanin, blueberries are shown to have increased signals among brain cells in animal studies, improving memory and learning ability.

With so many wonderful foods to choose from this spring, it is wise to keep good health in mind.

It is also a good idea to ask your grocer where the organic fruits and vegetables are located, and consider buying those as a first-choice. Sometimes paying a little for organic foods means buying foods that are purer and usually contain little or no toxins from commonly used agricultural sprays.

Armed with some healthy food options, enjoy your trip to the local grocer  this springtime and bring home the healthiest possible foods for your family and friends to enjoy.

Until next time, enjoy the ride in good health!

Laurie Edwards-Tate, MS, is a health care provider of over 32 years. As a featured “Communities Digital News” columnist, LifeCycles with Laurie Edwards-Tate emphasizes healthy aging and maintaining independence, while delighting and informing its readers. Laurie is a recognized expert in home and community-based, long-term care services, and is also an educator.

In addition to writing for “Communities Digital News,” Laurie is the President and CEO of her firm, At Your Home Familycare, which serves persons of all ages who are disabled and infirm with a variety of non-medical, in-home care and concierge services.

From: http://www.commdiginews.com/life/ten-health-promoting-springtime-superfoods-63540/