Beets - Why they’re healthy:  Folate and betaine (which can help lower your risk of heart disease), and their pigments may help fight cancer.
How to eat them:  Not from a jar, but fresh and uncooked.

Cabbage - Why it’s healthy:  Few calories, and sulforaphane helps reduce cancer risk.
How to eat it:  In a salad, or on a burger.

Guava - Why it’s healthy: Fiber, potassium, lycopene (which helps fight prostate cancer).
How to eat it: It’s all edible, from rind to seeds. May be a little hard to find, but high end supermarkets or Latin grocery stores should stock it.

Swiss Chard - Why it’s healthy: Lutein and zeaxanthin (which both help protect retinas from the damages of aging).
How to eat it: Sautéd with olive oil and garlic, seasoned with salt and pepper and served with grilled steaks and chicken, or pan-seared fish.

Cinnamon - Why it’s healthy:  Helps control blood sugar, which affects your risk of heart disease.
How to eat it:  Sprinkled on coffee or oatmeal.

Purslane - Why it’s healthy:  Melatonin (may inhibit cancer growth), omega-3 fats.
How to eat it:  In a salad as an alternative or addition to lettuce.

Pomegranate juice -  Why it’s healthy:  Improves bloodflow to the heart, decreases systolic blood pressure, vitamin C.
How to eat it: POM Wonderful makes a 100 per cent pomegranate juice with no added sugars - a small glass is all you need to get the many benefits.

Goji berries -  Why they’re healthy:  Antioxidants, may reduce insulin resistance (a risk factor for diabetes).
How to eat them:  Dried or fresh, alone or in yogurt, oatmeal or on cereal.

Dried plums -  Why they’re healthy:  Antioxidants that fight structural damage to cells, which is thought to be one of the main causes for cancer.
How to eat them:  As an appetizer wrapped in prosciutto.

Pumpkin seeds -  Why they’re healthy:  Magnesium.
How to eat them:  Shells and all.

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