Avocados, Almonds, Papayas, Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Salmon

I love food. Period. I always look forward to my first meal in the morning with a bowl of my own blend of hot or cold cereal. I get my ingredients in bulk from a whole food store (oatmeal, granola, almonds, flax seed, pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, and sunflower seeds) I mix all these up and store them in a huge cereal container. Instead of milk, I use almond milk by Silk. It find it healthier and tastier. I top off my cereal with slices of avocado, or fresh blueberries, or slices of banana. For beverage, I usually have a cup of fresh brewed Gevalia French Roast.

Let me tell you what I've learned about some of my favorite foods.

AVOCADOS

The healthy fats buried in the avocado’s flesh make it an ideal choice when you’re craving something rich and creamy. The reasons? Monounsaturated (healthy) fatty acids, and potassium--both of which help combat high blood pressure. Avocado fat is 66 percent monounsaturated, and gram-for-gram, the green fruit has about 35 percent more potassium than a banana. Famous for guacamole, but I top off most meals with slices of it, especially over my breakfast cereal, hot or cold

PUMPKIN SEEDS

I love pumpkin seeds in my cereal. I don't have stress issues, but many people I know do. They should be happy to know that pumpkin sees are loaded with stress-busting potential thanks to high levels of magnesium. The experts say that only about 30 percent of us meet our daily magnesium requirements, placing many people at a higher risk for stress symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, tension, fatigue, insomnia, nervousness and high blood pressure. A quarter cup of pumpkin seeds gives you half your day’s magnesium requirements. (Other smart sources of magnesium: Spinach, Swiss chard, black beans, soybeans, salmon.)


ALMONDS

Famous for its monounsaturated fats, but also rich in Vitamin E--a mind-calming nutrient. I love it in my cereal and in other foods. But to reach your day’s requirement from almonds alone, you need to eat about 40 to 50 nuts, and that's a lot of calories. But you can save on calories you mix them with other vitamin-E rich foods like unflower seeds, olives, spinach, or papaya.)


PAPAYA


For a mid-morning snack, I love to indulge in slices of papayas. The experts say it's a magic nutrient that could stop the flow of stress hormones. I eat it because it tastes good, and it carries nearly 75 percent more vitamin C than an orange. (Other smart sources of vitamin C include red bell peppers, broccoli, and oranges.)

SALMON

For dinner, ahh, of course, it's salmon. I can eat salmon everyday, and eating it in a variety of ways makes it possible for me to do it. But I moderate. Not only does omega-3 fat protect against heart disease and cognitive decline, but according to a study from Diabetes & Metabolism, the wonder fat is also responsible for maintaining healthy levels of cortisol. And what’s the world’s best source of omega-3s? Salmon. But there’s another trick in salmon’s arsenal—a sleep-promoting amino acid called tryptophan. One salmon filet has as much tryptophan as you need in an entire day. (Other smart sources of omega-3 fats: Flaxseeds, walnuts, sardines, halibut. Other smart sources of tryptophan: Chicken, tuna, beef, soybeans.)

(To be continued)