8 More Power Foods
by Chris Shugart



Because Everybody Eats
As we say in the muscle-building world, nutrition is responsible for
50% of your results. Or is 75%? Heck, I've even heard 90%!
Whatever. We'll let the experts argue numbers. But this much is certainly
true: If you aren't paying attention to the foods you eat, you're severely hurting
your chances of building a muscular, lean, healthy body.
But let's go a step beyond the obvious.
Tell me, what do fat people and scrawny people have in common? What
does the powerlifter have in common with the competitive bodybuilder?
The pro athlete and the weekend warrior? The 17 year old newbie and the
25-year veteran?
Answer: They all eat. Every day. Several times per day. And if they
aren't getting the results they want, then I'll bet you a shiny new quarter
that their diet is a big cause of the problem.

And that's why I love to read, edit, and write nutrition articles: They
apply to everybody and they can give your physique-building efforts a
blast of nitro.
Do you eat? Good. This article is for you.


Power Foods, 2009
A few years ago, TC wrote a great article about what he called
"power
foods." There he listed 13 foods that have powerful, drug-like effects on human
physiology — foods that not only make you healthier and potentially
boost your lifespan, but also foods that support your physique and athletic
goals. In other words, foods that make you look good nekid and
keep you looking good for years to come. Here's TC's list:

Broccoli
Wild Salmon
Grass-Fed Beef
Walnuts
Olive Oil
Blueberries
Flaxseeds
Pumpkin
Spinach
Tomatoes
Turkey Breast
Yogurt
Shiitake Mushrooms
Now I'd like to add to that list. Here you'll find 8 "new" power foods
that I've discovered, both as an amateur cook and fitness journalist
who's in contact with the best nutrition dudes in the biz.
Pull up a chair. Let's eat!


Power Food #1: Cabbage / Kimchi / Kale

One day as a child I toddled into my grandmother's kitchen and got a
noseful of boiling cabbage.
I didn't get near the shit again for 20 years.
Too bad for me. It turns out that cabbage can taste great raw or in
Asian dishes — any bad smell is actually caused by overcooking
it — and it's a bona fide superfood. Testosterone contributor
Dr. Jonny Bowden calls cabbage
"probably the most important vegetable in the world from the point of
view of nutritional benefits and cancer-fighting ability."

Cabbage:

• Contains loads of disease-preventing phytochemicals like indoles,
sulforaphane, disthiolethiones, and isothiocynates. That means
it can help battle breast cancer, prostate cancer, and environmental
toxins.

• Is loaded with fiber and has practically no calories
— making it a perfect "volumized" diet
food to help keep you full.

• Contains powerful antioxidants to help prevent
heart disease.

• Has anti-inflammatory effects.

• Is a natural source of glutamine.
One way to eat more cabbage is to use it as a salad alternative. Here's
a great recipe for Asian coleslaw.
Sauerkraut is another healthy option.
Next, check into kimchi, a Korean dish made of fermented cabbage
and other veggies that's been named one of the five healthiest foods
in existence by Health magazine.

Not only does kimchi contain lots of Chinese cabbage, you also get the
health benefits of fermentation, making this a natural probiotic. Look
for it at Asian food stores and even in the international section of
major grocery store chains.
Finally, kale, which is a type of cabbage, is sort of a
"super-spinach." Although everyone seems to think spinach is top dog
among leafy greens, kale actually beats it on the ORAC (oxygen radical
absorbance capacity) scale. In fact, kale is the highest ranking veggie
when it comes to antioxidant capacity. This is one reason why kale is
a major component of Biotest's
Superfood — it's
a health-boosting, cancer-fighting ass-kicker.
Now, tell your granny to stop boiling the cabbage. That just
ain't right.




Power Food #2: Organic Coconut Oil

This oil — mostly saturated fat — comes from pressed coconuts
and...
Huh? Yes, I did say "saturated fat." And no, there's no need to panic!
This plant-based saturated fat isn't exactly the same stuff found in
fast food and chemical-laden red meats. In fact, it's quite good for
you since it's a natural saturated fat consisting of medium-chain triglycerides
(MCTs).
Coconut oil got a negative rap a few decades ago after some really crappy
animal studies concluded it wasn't healthy. The dingdongs in lab
coats used hydrogenated coconut oil that was purposefully altered
to make it devoid of any essential fatty acids. [Slaps forehead.] Luckily,
things are changing for coconut oil. The newest studies show it's
quite healthful.

Coconut oil:

• Supports immune system

• Improves insulin sensitivity

• Acts as a healthful antibiotic

• Promotes gut health

• Has substantial antioxidant power

• Helps stimulate the metabolism by promoting
thermogenesis
The best thing about coconut oil is that you can cook with it without
ruining any of its healthful properties. I use it for everything from
stir-frys to eggs and pancakes.
On a mass plan and think you have to eat junk food to take in enough
calories? You don't. Spoon some sweet coconut oil into your shakes for
a healthful "weight gainer."
You can find coconut oil at any health food store. Just look for the
unrefined, virgin, or organic variety.


Power Food #3: Avocados

Once again, a bad childhood experience made me think I didn't like avocados.
See, I sampled some guacamole and was repulsed by the raw onions. (Still
not a fan of those.) It made me think I didn't like the main ingredient:
avocado. Bad mistake.
This buttery fruit — yep, it's a fruit — is full of healthy
monounsaturated fats, shown to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol
and triglycerides while raising "good" HDL cholesterol... and
that spells less heart disease. Monounsaturated fat has also been linked
to reduced risk of cancer and diabetes.

Also, avocados are:

• High in beta-sitosterol, which is protective
of the prostate.

• Chockfull of fiber and lutein, which is
good for the eyes and the skin.

• Proven to lower bad cholesterol by 22% in
as little as one week in people with hypercholesterolemia. The same
patients saw a 11% increase in good cholesterol.
By the way, this ugly fruit's name is derived from the Nahuatl word āhuacatl,
meaning testicle. Now you know in case it ever comes up on Jeopardy or
something
Toss your "testicles" in with your breakfast eggs, use them in salads,
or smear them on burgers instead of mayo.


Power Food #4: Omega-3 Enriched Eggs

"Only dorks eat egg whites," says super-coach Charles Poliquin.
"A guy training naturally needs whole eggs!" Thankfully, Coach, the eggs-are-evil
days are almost over!
Where'd that myth come from anyway? Well, early studies on eggs didn't
differentiate between the types of cholesterol. So yes, eggs raised cholesterol
and were deemed "bad," but it was the good kind of cholesterol — HDL.
Well, what do you expect from a study done by the makers of breakfast
cereal, the direct competition of eggs! One recent study concluded that
eggs were "not associated with high serum cholesterol concentrations."
I'm not worried about the health impact of whole eggs anymore, but I
do prefer the omega-3 enriched variety. All you do is feed hens a vegetable
diet with lots of flax seed and even some fish oil, and they lay eggs
with three times the omega-3 as regular ones.
Now, it's not much, and it won't replace your Flameout, but every little
bit helps. Plus it's comforting to know that the layer of your eggs is
being fed flax instead of "rendered cattle matter"
like the diet of a regular factory hen. I don't even wanna know what
that is.
Convinced but have no time to cook eggs in the morning? Here's a crazy
meal idea that
works great.
Eggland's Best eggs and other brands can be found at most grocery chains.




Power Food #5: Quinoa

Quinoa is a high-protein seed that contains all nine essential amino
acids, which is pretty uncommon. That's probably why it was so valued
among the Incas who called it "the mother of all grains,"
although it's not really a grain. Quinoa is recommended by Dr. John Berardi,
Dr. Jonny Bowden, and Charles Poliquin, among many others.
Since quinoa is a seed that thinks it's a grain, it's safe to eat even
for those with grain allergies. It has loads of fiber and a low glycemic
index, so if you're skeered of carbs, then quinoa can still be
your friend. When cooking it, you can think of it as a replacement for
oatmeal or rice.
Here's my favorite recipe for it: Incan
Warrior Breakfast.


Power Food #6: Greek Yogurt

I like to think of Greek yogurt as a real man's yogurt. Because it's
strained, Greek yogurt contains about twice the protein as foo-foo regular
yogurt, while at the same time containing fewer carbs and almost no lactose.
Its good-for-ya live and active culture content is also much higher than
that of regular yogurts.
The straining process not only makes it creamy and rich, it also produces
a yogurt that stands up better to heat, so you can cook with it as well
as toss it into protein shakes or eat in plain. One of my favorite uses
for it is to toss a couple tablespoons into low-fat ground meats like
turkey or venison for added moisture and flavor.
Fage and Oikos are
two good brands widely available, even at many regular food stores. You
can get full-fat or fat-free depending on your dietary leanings.


Power Food #7: Onions

I really dislike onions, at least raw onions. But because of their potent
cancer-fighting abilities, I've learned to eat them. Why would I go against
my personal food preferences and learn to enjoy onions? Because onions:

• Lower the risk of prostate cancer according
to the Journal of the
National Cancer Institute.

• Have demonstrated protective properties
against stomach cancer and esophageal cancer. This may be because onions
contain diallyl sulfide, which boosts your body's production of glutathione-S-transferase,
a cancer-fighting enzyme.

• May help prevent heart disease or reduce
deaths from heart disease according to a study done in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Want the most benefits? Then take a tip from Dr. Bowden and choose the
strongest tasting onions. These contain the most health-improving chemicals.
My tip for the non-onion eater? Thinly slice a milder onion like a shallot
and grill it in olive oil with a dash of balsamic vinegar and a pinch
of organic cane sugar. Smells like greasy onion rings when cooking, but
ya know, won't take years off your life and stuff. Great topping
for a turkey burger or as an omelet stuffer, plus it allows for a gentler
introduction to onion eating.


Power Food #8: Beans

Of beans, Dr. John Berardi notes: "Beans are a magical fruit, containing
soluble fiber, lots of B-vitamins, calcium, a good dose of amino acids,
and a big whack of anthocyanins, known for their powerful antioxidant
capacity. I throw a cup or two of legumes on my plate a few days per
week."
People who eat beans regularly typically have lower rates of heart disease
and certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer, something we
dudes over 35 need to start thinking about.
Think beans are a pain to make because of all the pre-soaking and such?
No worries, canned beans are fine. Even the American Institute for Cancer
Research suggests you always keep canned beans in your pantry for quick
additions to meals.
By the way, the USDA recently tripled its previous intake recommendations
for beans. They now recommend three cups each week... which probably
means that double that amount would be even better given how behind-the-nutritional-times
these organizations can be.
Need a quick bean-rich recipe? Here ya go.


Wrap-Up
Better health, bigger muscles, less fat. Want a powerful body like that?
Eat the power foods!


References

1) Prior IA, Davidson F, Salmond CE, Czochanska Z. Cholesterol, coconuts,
and diet on Polynesian atolls: a natural experiment: the Pukapuka and
Tokelau island studies. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:1552 — 61.

2) Kaunitz H, Dayrit CS. Coconut oil consumption and coronary heart
disease. Philippine J Intern Med 1992;30:165 — 71 [review].

3) B.D. Bergh Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of
California. http://www.avocadosource.com/WAC2/WAC2_p037.htm

4) Nutritional Contribution of Eggs to American Diets, Won O. Song,
PhD, MPH, RD and Jean M. Kerver, MS, RD. Food and Nutrition Database
Research Center, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan

5) Monounsaturated fatty acid (avocado) rich diet for mild hypercholesterolemia.
Lopez Ledesma, R : Frati Munari, A C : Hernandez Dominguez, B C : Cervantes
Montalvo, S : Hernandez Luna, M H : Juarez, C : Moran Lira, S. Arch-Med-Res.
1996 Winter; 27(4): 519-23

6) The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, Dr. Jonny Bowden, Ph.D,
C.N.S



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