Paleo Cookbook For Dummies (16 page)

Cruciferous vegetables:
Cruciferous vegetables such as greens, kohlrabi, and the whole broccoli family, take the lead in the superfood vegetables category. They have sulfur-containing compounds that break down when you chew or chop them, causing a chemical reaction that boosts immunity.

Sea vegetables:
Sea vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. They nourish the thyroid, promote a healthy immune system, and prevent and treat many diseases. If you aren't familiar with sea veggies, here are some great choices:

• Dulse

• Hijiki

• Kelp

• Kombu

• Nori

• Wakame

Fermented vegetables:
Fermentation uses beneficial bacteria that are great for gut health. Because your gut health is so closely tied to your immunity and your skin health, fermented vegetables are a great superfood to add to your meals. Try kimchi or sauerkraut, or ferment some beets or carrots.

Miscellaneous vegetables:
Some vegetables, such as garlic, onions, spinach, and asparagus, are nutrient dense beyond what most vegetables can offer. They also have amazing healing and age-defying properties. Toss them in a salad, a soup, a stew, or even your morning eggs for a bit of a superfood blast!

Fruits

What I love about fruit is that it gives you the chance to sweeten things up a bit and still get nutrition. In fact, the darker the fruit's color, the more nutrition it usually contains. What really makes a fruit a superfood are the vitamins, minerals, disease-fighting phytochemicals, vision-promoting lutein, and fiber they contain. Some stand out from the pack:

Apples

Avocadoes

Berries

Cherries

Grapefruit

Kiwi

Lemons

Limes

Mangoes