Amazing Super-foods for Vitality and Clear Skin

What's hiding in your refrigerator? Candy, cookies, cake? There's nothing wrong with these treats as long as they are consumed in moderation. However, there are certain foods that one simply can't get enough. Thus, when preparing for this summer, consider adding these super-foods to your menu.

Do not let the name fool you. Negative calorie foods simply mean the body uses more energy to break down the product than one is actually consuming. These types of foods can be especially beneficial to a healthy lifestyle. Popular negative calorie foods are cucumbers, apples,  lettuce, onions, greens and kelp noodles.  The same effect can be achieved from drinking a glass of water before a meal.  The concept of negative calorie foods is heavily rooted in the fact that these particular foods are composed of water. The water in the food expands in the stomach, making one feel fuller faster. For more details, check out this website.

Salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel are rich with Omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids are most commonly found in marine and plant oils. The benefits of an Omega-3 rich diet simply cannot be ignored. Research has shown that they lower the risk of heart disease, improve arthritis and possibly help Alzheimer. Omega-3 is also prevalent in eggs, flax seed and walnuts.

Aside from being delicious in yogurt and muffins, blueberries are often credited for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to the Wild Blueberries' research, blueberries "have been linked with anti-aging, anti-cancer and heart-health benefits."  This does not suggest that blueberries alone can prevent or cure any of these problems, but a cup or two of blueberries per day surely won't hurt!

It is no surprise that eating healthy is correlated with looking healthy. According to Livestrong.com pomegranates have skin clearing properties. Yes, these tiny burst of flavor have antioxidant qualities and enough anthocyanins  (assists in cell regeneration) to keep you pores clear. They are a little messy, so watch this tutorial from healthcastle.com on how to properly de-seed a pomegranate.

According to a study in The Journal of the American Medical Association, "a diet of soy fiber, protein from oats and barley, almonds and margarine" is "the most widely prescribed cholesterol medicine." Soy milk, shakes, tofu, tempeh soy protein, and soybean are excellent sources of this protein. Vegetarians especially can benefit from soy-manufactured Boca and Morningstar products.

Despite its name, buckwheat is a fruit with a three-cornered, kernel-containing shell. It can be found at most specialty sections at supermarkets. Buckwheat contains a significant amount of lysine. According to Livestrong, this essential amino acid is crucial to the "formation of collagen," and is important to "connective tissues including the skin." Think of those annoying cold sores or warts. These nuisances can be treated and prevented by incorporating other lysine-rich foods such as eggs, avocados, legumes and fish.

Natural black and green tea has been found to be a powerful antioxidant. Green tea in particular contains ECGC which has been associated with preventing the growth of cancer cells. Check out this website for more information on the different types of teas and their benefits.