In the same way that a car runs on fuel, our body needs food to function. How our body performs depends on the quality of the food we eat. The right foods can turbo charge your engine and help in its maintenance. They provide you with what you need to prevent regular wear and tear associated with as much tread as you've put on your tires.

To keep your engine firing on all cylinders, what additives do you need? Most of the foods that have healing qualities also work preventively. In fact they work best this way and are most effective when eaten as whole foods. You have probably heard about the superfoods. If you haven't started making them a part of your diet, its about time you did.

Bean Dieting
Beans are rich in protein and fiber thus eating them can be extremely filling. They are able to keep you feeling full longer thereby helping you to control your food intake without much effort. Eating beans aids in weight loss lose weight and it also prevents obesity. Furthermore, a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in November 2005 reported that a diet rich in lean protein (about half from plant sources such as beans) was found to lower blood pressure and "bad" LDL cholesterol, and to reduce the risk of heart disease by 21 percent. This magical fruit, often mistakenly thought of as a vegetable, has a high antioxidant content. In some studies, beans have also been shown to cut the risk of colon cancer.

Thank You Berry Much
Berries such as strawberries, raspberries and most especially blueberries, are generally known as being very rich in antioxidants. An analysis of the disease-fighting antioxidant activity of 40 fruits and vegetables done at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University showed that blueberries have twice to thrice the amount of antioxidants as spinach, apples, broccoli and many other fruits and vegetables.

Berries are also believed to slow the deterioration of joints. A Boston University study of arthritis patients reports that the vitamin C content of these fruits provides protection for the joints. Vitamin C is also a major ingredient in the creation of collagen which is an essential component of bone and cartilage.

Go Nuts for Your Heart
Aside from being a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, nuts can also help lower bad LDL cholesterol levels. An example of a nut that has an especially high level of omega-3's is the walnut. These substances lower the risk of hypertension and heart disease.

A study on Japanese men and women showed that those who ate one-fourth to one-third cup of walnuts a day lowered their "bad" LDL cholesterol levels by up to 10 percent. Nuts such as pistachios, almonds and walnuts are all rich in arginine which is an amino acid that increases blood flow to the heart.

Grainy Reception
University of Minnesota researchers suggest that eating three daily servings of whole grains provides the following health benefits: it reduces the risk of stroke by 37%, heart disease by 25 to 36%, and Type 2 diabetes by 21 to 27%. Whole grains include brown rice, oats, bulgur, whole wheat, and bran. Choose breads labeled whole and ditch those "enriched" kiddy breads.

Yo-Yo-Yogurt
Probiotics are the good bacteria that fight illness and disease. Among the foods that contain probiotics, yogurt is considered king. Findings from two recent studies show that eating yogurt can significantly improve a persons ability to combat pneumonia. Its okay to eat yogurt everyday as long as you get the brand that contains live or active cultures because its pointless to eat dead bacteria, even if they're the beneficial kind.

Fish Food
Numerous studies show that a diet that includes salmon reduces blood pressure, lowers cholesterol levels and helps prevent heart disease. In a recent research done by the University of California, San Diego, it was observed that a higher intake of omega-3s seems to preserve bone density which strengthens the bones and provides better protection against fractures. Cold-water fish like sardines, tuna and mackerel also contain omega-3s.

Cabbage Curbs Cancer?
Different studies on this vegetable point to its ability to fight various types of cancer. In November 2005, the American Association for Cancer Research presented a study which found Polish women who ate cabbage or sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) four or more times a week to be 74% less likely to develop breast cancer. Additional studies suggest that cabbage may also protect against lung, stomach and colon cancers. The magic substance appears to be sulforaphane which is a phytochemical in cabbage that eliminates cancerous substances by stimulating cells.