Foods for Healthy Living (and why you should eat pumpkin this fall!)

The AARP bulletin features an article about foods for healthy living.

Taken from the article at http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/healthyliving/articles/foods_for_healthy.html:

For vision, weight control is one key because added weight causes inflammation that affects the eyes. Choose carrots, for the beta-carotene, and get more of that by cooking them. Spinach has vitamins and antioxidants that act as a sunscreen for the eyes. Wild salmon’s omega-3 fatty acids also protect the small vessels of the eye...

For arthritis, manage the condition by avoiding fatty foods and refined sugars and “load up” on fruits with great antioxidants, like pumpkin (not the pie filling, just canned or fresh pumpkin). Pumpkin “really helps with joint pain, and when you mix it with nonfat vanilla yogurt. It’s delicious. I eat that for breakfast a lot.” The second choice, two spices with great anti-inflammatory powers—turmeric, and ginger. The third food is a red bell pepper, which has more vitamin C than an orange (250 mg. vs. 90) and two antioxidants.

For full details, check out the original article at http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/healthyliving/articles/foods_for_healthy.html