Plate It Black.

So black is the new color in superfoods. Research is showing us that many black foods are packed with vitamins and other nutrients that can do our bodies good.

Here are 6 of the hottest black superfoods on the block…

1- Black Tea. Everyone is always sweating green, with good reason but it turns out that black tea has its own set of benefits to offer. Black tea contains theaflavins which have been shown to help you recover from the muscle soreness that comes along with a hard work out. Other studies tell us that drinking black tea may also reduce your risk for heart attack.

2- Blackberries. Berries are on every single good for you, eat this food list, known to mankind. So seeing them on this list is not shocking. Blackberries are packed with fiber which will help you feel fuller for longer and well as help to aid in digestion. These berries also contain poyphenols which clean up the brain cells that impair brain function, this is especially important in advanced age when our cognitive abilities start to go.

3- Black Rice. The goth of the grain family contains a hull that is packed with Vitamin E. Vitamin E not only strengthens our immune system, it also protects our cells from free radical damage. This will give us better skin and a healthier body. Black rice actually contains more antioxidants then blueberries which are a power house in their own right.

4- Black Beans. Black beans are my favorite type of beans so I was super excited to see them on this list. The skin is where it is at when it comes to black beans, they are packed with bioflavonoids, which are strong plant base nutrients that have been shown to help protect against cancer according to some research.

5- Black Lentils. There is tons of iron in black lentils, one cup gives you more than half your recommended daily allowance. Black lentils are also full of fiber which has been shown to not only lower your cholesterol but it may also help improve our bodies immune function so you will be stronger and stay full longer if you toss some of these into your soup, salad or side dish.

6- Black Soybeans. All soy beans contain a type of Omega-3 acid called alphalinoelic acid, which has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. The thing about black soybeans is that they have been shown to reduce a type of  potentially fatal blood clot known as thrombosis better than both green and yellow soy beans can.

Need a Resolution for 2012? Become a Vegetarian

Today’s Post Is Brought To You By Our Guest Blogger Allison Brooks. Allison Just Graduated From The University of Mississippi With A Degree in Biomedical Anthropology. When She is Not Doing Research Work She Enjoys Being In Her Kyack, Riding Her Horses And Playing Soccer. Of Course She Is A VegHead 😉

I know that title might scare you at first… but why? Being vegetarian is not that bad, I have been one for 13 years and I’m not a feeble skeleton yet. I say that, because the look people give when I say I’m a vegetarian, is like “why, what’s wrong with you?” or “you don’t look like a vegetarian”. Haha I love that one. I love how people expect you to have to be crazed or have a health-issue to be a vegetarian. But why can’t it just be for health, or cause you want to? Society is becoming more concerned with a natural lifestyle and protecting the environment so being a VegHead is in. Vegetarianism and veganism are growing in popularity because of concerns over personal health and ethics about killing animals.

Reasons to Become a Vegetarian

Vegetarian diets are high in nutrition and fiber but low in fat and that will prevent and fight many diseases and conditions. Some of these include cancer, gum disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, obesity, and intestinal problems.

There is also much talk today about chemicals and toxins that find their way into the body. One reason to not eat meat is the tissue retains the pesticides, herbicides, drugs, sterols, and growth hormones that have been ingested by or given to the animals.

Humans are essentially herbivores and can survive just fine by eating plant food. Many people feel that it is not right to kill an animal to survive because it is not necessary and not humane.

Benefits of Being a Vegetarian

People become vegetarian for many reasons and one of the main ones is health. Heart disease has reached an alarming rate and a plant-based diet is much better than a meat-based one. Eating red meat can greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular problems mostly because of the high amount of cholesterol and saturated fat. Studies have shown that some children as young as three are showing symptoms of cardiovascular disease in its early stages.

Being vegetarian can also lower your risk of developing many forms of cancer. Eating meat every day increases a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer by four times. That risk can be reduced by up to 30 percent by simply consuming one serving of vegetables each day.

The immune system of a vegetarian is better at destroying tumors than the immune system of people who eat meat. This is also why many natural diets are prescribed during cancer treatments. Aggressive cancers like pancreatic or mesothelioma cancer, require intense conventional treatments so the antioxidants and photochemicals really help the body recover after treatment sessions.
Good for Your Teeth?

Good oral health comes from eating a healthy balanced diet with a lot of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Vegetarians need to make sure they are getting complete proteins and enough vitamin D and calcium, especially those who don’t eat dairy products, as vitamin D and calcium are essential to good oral health.

If periodontal disease is an issue, there are several supplements and natural products that can help. One would be using toothpaste that contains tea tree oil, as it is antibacterial. Cranberry juice keeps bacteria from sticking to the teeth and coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that will help gum tissue heal. But remember, if serious issue continue, stop by a local dentist. From LA to DC, dentist offices are basically on every corner.

This Is Allison Brooks, Veggie Fitness Guest Blogger of The Day 😉

Don’t Slack On D.

Vitamin D. We all need it, yet most of us are lacking in it. If you don’t think this matters, think again. Vitamin D plays a role in everything from helping to increase your muscle strength to helping ward off cancer. Good vegan/vegetarian sources of Vitamin D are soy milk, tofu, yogurt and mushrooms.

Mushrooms Are A Great Source Of Vitamin D.

Six Reasons To Step Up Your D.

1- Vitamin D Helps Make You Stronger.

Once ingested Vitamin D actually turns into a steroid hormone known as 1,25-dihydroxyvitaminD. This hormone helps increase muscle strength by encouraging muscle contractions and protein synthesis.

2- Vitamin D Boosts Your Immune System.

Not only does Vitamin D play a key role in our immune function, it also helps us fend off autoimmune diseases and illnesses such as Multiple Sclerosis. Vitamin D helps keep the harmful T-helper 1 cells low, these cells attack our immune systems.

3- Vitamin D Boots Your Mood.

In studies, symptoms of both Depression and Seasonal Mood disorder showed a reduction when the subject increased their Vitamin D intake. Even if you do not suffer from depression, Vitamin D may also boost your mood.

4- Vitamin D Can Help Prevent Heart Disease.

Vitamin D is known to help regulate blood pressure. Having low Vitamin D levels puts you at a higher risk for heart problems. You are twice as likely to develop heart disease if you are low in Vitamin D.

5- Vitamin D Can Help Prevent Cancer.

Cancer is a mutation of a cell and Vitamin D helps regulate cell growth. If  a cell becomes abnormal, the Vitamin D will try to make it normal or block off its blood supply. A lack of Vitamin D will cause the body to slack on getting that cell help therefore allowing the cancer to grow.

6- Vitamin D Is Good For Your Bones.

Recent studies show that Vitamin D is the number one thing your bones need to be strong. Vitamin D defends against Osteoporosis and helps us absorb Calcium, in turn making our bones stronger.

Vitamin D.