A black dress is a staple in my closet.  You know that  little black dress that can always be worn for special occasions.

Love that  “little black dress” it never goes out of style.  Classic!  

Then I read how black food is another very important food to consume for our health.  These foods are being heralded as the new superfood. The consensus is  dark fruits, veggies, and grains are nutritional powerhouses. How do they get so black?  Well, their color comes from anthocyanins, plant pigments that may help lower the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.  The fact is, “black foods have more antioxidants than light-colored foods because of their high pigment content,” says Cy Lee, PhD, a professor of food chemistry at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Listed are the six powerhouse items that need to be in your kitchen to keep us on the proper health track.

Blackberries 

“Polyphenols found in dark berries may help reduce cognitive decline in older age by cleaning up cells that impair brain function, researchers at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston say. Blackberries are also hugely fiber-rich—one cup has almost 8 of the 25 grams you need daily.” Blackberries are also  sweet and easy to eat.  I usually grab a few and begin popping into my mouth…

Black Beans

“The dark skins of these beans are packed with bioflavonoids—potent plant-based nutrients that may protect against cancer.” So says the research out of Cornell University.  I eat black beans with Spanish rice.  Even my husband, who does not eat  for health, appreciates these tiny little beans.

Black Rice

“Brown rice is good for you, but black rice is EVEN BETTER. That’s because the bran hull contains significantly higher amounts of vitamin E, which bolsters the immune system and protects cells from free radical damage. In fact, black rice contains more anthocyanin antioxidants than blueberries.” WOW! This is according to a study from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.   Holy Moly!  I am  definitely getting a bag of black rice…

Black Tea

“Green and white teas get all the health hype, but good old black tea has its perks, too. It contains theaflavins—antioxidants that a study from Rutgers University in New Jersey suggests may improve recovery from muscle soreness after intense exercise. Drinking black tea may also lower your risk of having a heart attack.”   Tea is my top of the morning drink.  Certainly had no idea it was good to drink after a Bernie workout.

Black Soybeans

“A Korean study found that eating black soybeans can help reduce the risk of thrombosis—a type of blood clot that’s potentially fatal—even more than yellow or green soybeans.”   Now soy is something I tend to shy away from, but, I will have to tell my mom about this, she was currently diagnosed with thrombosis.

Black Lentils

“Legumes are loaded with iron: One cup has about 8 milligrams, getting you almost halfway to the daily requirement of 18 milligrams for women. Lentils also boast high levels of soluble fiber, which may not only lower your cholesterol, but could also improve immune function, according to a new University of Illinois study.”  I love to make lentil soup.

We have been told that eating an array of bright colored fruits and veggies are most beneficial to our healthy. We can now add  basic black to that palette. Do make sure that black food is a staple in your frig.  I know I will. From this moment on  my kitchen will be holding that “Little Black Food”.

How classic is that!

source: healthyliving.msn.com

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