Watercress Tops List of ‘Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables.’ Who Knew?

Washington Post ^ | June 5 | Lenny Berstein

[nickcarraway]

Anyone who’s paying attention knows it’s a very good idea to eat green, leafy vegetables and colorful citrus fruits. Over time, research has shown their association with reducing cancer and chronic disease. In fact, most of us know that we should be consuming multiple helpings of these foods each day. (Here is a handy calculator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that helps you figure out how much you need.)

But which vegetables are best? Fads come and go as quickly as that kale in your fridge. One day it’s broccoli, the next cabbage. And how do you compare the benefits of vegetables versus fruits?

Researchers at William Paterson University in New Jersey have done all of us a big favor by producing a list of 41 “powerhouse fruits and vegetables” ranked by the amounts of 17 critical nutrients they contain. In a study published Thursday in the CDC journal “Preventing Chronic Disease,” the foods are scored by their content of fiber, potassium, protein, calcium,  folate, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin D and other nutrients, all considered important to public health.

[This I Wonder32460]

Raw kale either depletes your levels of potassium or doesn’t allow them to be used which can contribute to high blood pressure.

[EEGator]

That show is the Devil.