A few months ago I received a response to my article on my top 10 remedies asking for my top 10 foods. Here they are.

1. Purified cod liver oil is still at the top of the heap! I feel that this is not a supplement but a food that EVERYONE should include in their diets. It reduces heart disease, all cancers, is important for the brain, skin, digestion, blood sugar and moods. Eating small fish such as salmon and sardines 4-5 times per week might work but there is still the mercury exposure. So why not take purified fish oils instead?

2. Greens of any kind. Beet greens, barley grass, chlorella, cilantro, kale collards or leeks. Anything that is going to add chlorophyll to your diet is a must!

3. Ginger: The “Ginger Juice” recipe can easily takes the place of a gingerale. Boil 2 cups of ginger in 10 cups of purified water for one hour. The longer it boils the spicier it gets. Cool and store in glass bottles in the fridge up to one week. Serve hot or cold, on ice, with a splash of lemon or lime juice and sweeten with stevia to taste. If kids like gingerale they will like this and it will save them from ingesting 7 teaspoons of sugar per can!

4. Almonds are a favorite protein snack for me to recommend especially to those wanting to lose weight. Half a cup supplies 14 grams of protein as well as 36 mg of calcium. Kids may prefer them softened in water over night. Brazil nuts are a favorite for men as two per day contain 200mcg of selenium, just the amount they need to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by 65%! Be careful as ingesting too many can put on too much weight.

5. Free range or organic eggs. This is one of the most absorbable proteins to ingest. 48% is utilized compared to milk and soy proteins which only have a 16% utilization ratio. The rest is discarded as nitrogen waste. Unless a person is allergic to eggs an average adult may consume 6-8 per week. Eggs are a good source of readily absorbed lutein, important for the prevention of macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older Canadians.

6. Rooibos Tea: This red bush tea from South Africa was a drink for the peasants and has only gained in popularity in recent years. It has more anti-oxidants than green tea as well as additional minerals making it ideal during pregnancy, for allergies, eczema, colic and the nerves.

7. Legumes are delicious and can be served hot or cold. They are a “slow release” carbohydrate that is superior to brown rice in stabilizing blood sugars and make a perfect lunch. My website includes many soup and salad recipes that are easy to make. If you will eat it at a buffet why not include it in your regular diet? It is another way to avoid the evil “ wheat bread” and is very satisfying for a meal.

8. Orange coloured vegetables including yams, carrots, squash and peppers. The carotenes found in these foods are important for preventing most cancers and for excellent skin health. In the summer eat them raw, in the winter bake them!

9. Beets are one of the best foods for the liver. They promote the formation of glutathione in the liver, are a good source of folic acid and they prevent colon cancer. They can be shredded on salads or baked.

10. Sauerkraut I think is the best prebiotic food available. Yogurt is a dairy and presents too many allergy challenges. Home made is the best for  promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.