Today's Power Couple!

Did you know that when certain foods are eaten together, their respective health benefits are exponentially increased? Throughout the weeks ahead, I am going to introduce the most powerful food combinations that will supercharge your health in ways that wouldn't be possible if they were eaten separately. Today’s "super couple" is avocado and tomato.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a pigment-rich antioxidant known as a carotenoid. Carotenoid has been shown to reduce cancer risk and cardiovascular disease. Fats make carotenoids more bioavailable ( the amount that a substance is absorbed), making a strong case for adding tomatoes to your guacamole dip, or for adding avocados to a tomato-rich, leafy green salad. According to a July 13th, 2012 article in Men’s Health online magazine, registered dietitian Susan Bowerman of California Polytechnic State University stated “the lycopene in tomato products such as pasta sauce is better absorbed when some fat (e.g., olive oil) is present than if the sauce were made fat free." Furthermore, she acknowledges that Mediterranean diets tend to blend lycopene-rich foods with healthy fats, which points to the effectiveness of a Mediterranean diet. According to a study at Ohio State University, beta-carotene, a type of Vitamin A found in tomatoes, is proven to boost immunity and is three times more effective when combined with a fresh avocado (www.undergroundhealthreporter.com/super-food-combinations#axzz2LqNPp49m).

So, next time you are craving guacamole, be sure to mix in a healthy share of diced tomatoes!

Remember, Folks, food determines how we feel and heal!

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