Super Foods for a Super You

Eat Your Way To Radiant Health

By Betsy Friauf | July/August 2021

We are what we eat. Why not stock up on super foods to help crush your health and fitness goals? Here are 10 to put on your list—some surprising new ones as well as the stalwarts that never fail. Bon appétit— and here’s to your beautiful body! 

Hair: Tempeh 
Your follicles need iron to pump up a healthy sheen, and you might come up short if you resolved to eat less red meat. 6 ounces of tempeh, a fermented soy product, gives you 20 percent of your iron RDI. Plus, soy can help balance hormones.

Fat burning: White fish
A powerhouse of protein with 30 grams in a 158-calorie serving, this food fuels your workout. Plus, it gigs your serotonin, the workhorse brain chemical that’s getting new plaudits for regulating appetite.

Heart: Pistachios
You radiate vitality when you take care of your ticker. Pick pistachios for a high-protein, low-fat snack high in Omega-3 fatty acids. As a bonus, nuts satisfy our primal need to crunch down.    

Nails: Avocado
Taco, guac, salad – however you slice it, you’ll get a biotin boost. One of the B vitamins, biotin helps keep your fingernails and toenails strong. Did you know the avocado is not a vegetable, but a fruit? No wonder we love it on toast!

Brain: Broccoli
You knew we couldn’t skip this one. But here’s the surprise: Just a cup of this superhero veggie gives you 100% of your RDA of vitamin K, essential to optimum brain function. Didn’t someone say the most important sex organ is the brain? Asking for a friend… 

Teeth: Carrots
You know the beta-carotene is good for your eyes. New research indicates the keratin in carrots also strengthens tooth enamel. Plus, all that chewing clears food particles, helping protect your pearly whites from decay.  

Skin: Wild blueberries
Definitely a case of good stuff in a small package. These babies bring more antioxidants than other berries to help your skin recover from sun, stress, and sleep deprivation. We need about 10,000 antioxidant units a day; a serving or two will get you there.

Muscle: Oranges
Yes, our very own citrus star! Protein you know about. But you might not know that vitamin C is vital to building testosterone and collagen, which makes your muscles strong.

Feet: Chia seeds
Last but certainly not least, be sweet to your feet! About a quarter of all your bones are here, and you’ll need calcium to guard against breaks. Various seeds kick up your calcium, and chia boasts additional nutrients, plus fiber—but few calories.