Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I’m thankful and grateful for my loyal readers who take the time to read my posts. Blogging is hard, thankless work, but you inspire and motivate me.

I’m thankful for the good health of my loved ones — especially my mom who was discharged from the hospital this morning. Thank you to Cindy and the great staff at Piedmont Hospital!

The following is a re-post from 2011. If you are still preparing Thanksgiving dinner for your loved ones, make sure to include the seven superfoods that help you to see better, increase your energy and make your skin look youthful and radiant.

On her website, registered dietician Ellie Krieger explains the benefits of eating healthy by including these 7 superfoods in your holiday meals.

Superfood #1: Kale

“Kale is great for your eyes because it has lutein that can help your eyes and prevent damage from aging.” Sauté it or throw it in a salad.

Superfood #2: Dried cherries

“Especially tart cherries. Interestingly, they contain melatonin which has been shown to help regulate sleep patterns.” They’re great as a snack or toss them in a salad, pancakes or muffins.

Superfood #3: Salmon which is loaded with omega-3 fats.

“Omega-3 fats reduces the inflammation in the body. So inflammation is thought to be at the root of many diseases, including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, even cancers. Fresh salmon costs about $20 per pound. You can get a can of salmon which will run you about $4 per pound and it has all the omega fats.”

Superfood #4: Mangoes

“Mangoes are great for your immune system. They have aobut 80% of your Vitamin C requirement in just one cup.”

Superfood #5: Pinto beans

“Pinto beans are one of the highest antioxidant contents of any beans, and you know what? They cost .13 cents a cup.”

Superfood #6: Sweet potatoes

“Sweet potatoes, great for your skin. The orange in them, the thing that makes them orange is beta-carotene, which is a form of Vitamin A, and this powerful antioxidant vitamin targets the skin. So it specifically can help prevent damage from the sun, which causes wrinkling and so on.”

Superfood #7: Almonds

“They have protein, healthy fat, and fiber. Those things combined can help keep your energy up all afternoon,” said Krieger.

None of these foods are expensive or hard to prepare. Eat healthy and be well!

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