More Beets & Cabbage
Beets and cabbage have headlined the latest “best foods you’re not eating” article, this time on the Well column of the New York Times. Author Tara Parker-Pope listed these items as foods you should be eating but probably aren’t (along with simple preparation methods):
1. Beets
2. Cabbage
3. Swiss chard
4. Cinnamon
5. Pomegranate juice
6. Prunes
7. Pumpkin seeds
8. Sardines
9. Turmeric
10. Frozen blueberries
11. Canned pumpkin
Of the foods listed, my wife and I do get cabbage from time to time as well as frozen blueberries in our fruit smoothies. Outside of those two, we hardly eat any of them (pumpkin seeds from time to time too, now that I think about it) and probably should integrate them more. Pumpkin appears twice, that’s interesting… since most Americans only think of them during Halloween!
One Person has left comments on this post
Jul 3, 2008 - 03:07:32I’m always very skeptical about ‘experts’ making claims about things we should or should not be doing when it comes to food. It’s common sense to keep your dietary fat intake under control and it’s common sense to minimise your alcohol consumption.
But to tell us we should be eating swiss chard and drinking pomengranate juice? Yes, obviously, because our ancient ancestors thrived on those same foods, too!
However, my biggest gripe is that, as usual, this sort of advice is always very vague about the pros and cons because it has to be – it’s aimed at somebody who doesn’t exist: the average person. Much like protein and carbohydrate RDAs, these numbers are all just best guesses, and are typically aimed at sedentary people. If you’re physically active, have a medical condition of some kind, are bigger or smaller than ‘average’, have certain food allergies, a bigger brain or heart, or just simply require a higher does of whatever, these recommendations often not only do not apply to you, but might actually be causing you harm.
Something like sulforaphane, for example, is also prevelant in broccoli, sprouts, watercress and salad rocket. Why not recommend those items as well/instead?
Variety is the spice of life – keep your diet mixed and, most importantly, interesting, and you’ll go on to achieve great success with your health.