Make these easy food changes and get big health benefits

Dear Friend,

Did you know that your body actually craves fruits and vegetables? It dates back to the dawn of civilization when these wholesome foods were a staple of human life. Now fast forward to today where there's an abundance of processed foods and fast food junk everywhere you turn. It's easy to see why so many people are unhealthy and struggling to improve the quality of their lives.

I know it's not easy to eat healthy every day, for every meal, and for every snack. But one of the simplest changes you can make--and one that will give you a huge "bang for your buck" in terms of your health--is simply adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Fruits and vegetables contain an abundance of healthy phytonutrients that help to boost your immune system; promote a healthy heart, joints, and cells; increase your energy; and even help detoxify your body. Most fruits and vegetables also contain carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that protect your body from free radicals, which are the leading cause of aging.

What about the good ole' favorites-bananas and potatoes?

Ok, so you already eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but are they the best choices? Bananas and white potatoes (including French fries, which I'm hard-pressed to call a vegetable) are the number-one fruits and vegetables eaten in this country today.

While bananas and potatoes are good foods, they're both very low in carotenoids and flavonoids--they simply lack nutritional power. If you're going to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, then add the ones that give you the biggest return on your investment, so to speak.

Add these "super" fruits and veggies instead

I recommend some of the least eaten foods, like broccoli, kale, and spinach. They give you an abundance of healthy benefits, including promoting healthy cells and strong immunity, and they contain natural detoxifiers that help support your liver's detoxification process.

As for fruits, I advise adding more of the dark purple family of fruits. These include blueberries, blackberries, and red grapes. They provide particularly high levels of antioxidant power to fight free radicals. Dates, apples, and raisins are also good choices, especially for their fiber and digestive benefits.

Also, whenever possible, please choose organic. You don't want to make the effort to eat the good stuff, and then worry if they're loaded with pesticides and other toxins.

Here's an even easier way to get your fill each day

I'll admit, it can be a real challenge for some of us to eat lots of fruits and vegetables every day, organic or not. One delicious trick I've found is bars. I'm not referring to the sugary things that call themselves healthy, I'm talking about nutrition bars packed with potent fruits, vegetables, and even grains. One particularly wholesome and remarkably tasty one is the ReBAR.

Just one of these super healthy bars gives you eight servings of fruits and vegetables, is fat-free, has six grams of fiber, with over 20 organic ingredients altogether.

There’s also another version of the Rebar called the Grains'n Greens Bar that provides four servings of fruits and vegetables along with eight different grains, so it’s high in fiber too. What’s more, neither of these bars have refined sugars or additives. In my opinion, they’re nutritional treasures.

Having trouble digesting lots of fruits and vegetables?

So what if you just can't stomach a lot of produce each day? Juicing is a great option that gives your body the powerful nutrients in fruits and vegetables, without putting stress on your digestive system. Think of juice as "predigested," so your digestive system doesn't have to do all the work.

What's more, I recommend fresh juice to everyone because it can play a valuable role in helping certain health conditions, and providing a great energy and immune boost, even if you're in perfect health. While you can use practically any kind of produce for fresh juice, here are some easy favorites:

• Carrot juice, which is the powerhouse of all juices and supports a healthy heart and digestive system.
• Celery-apple juice which helps relieve achiness and promote restful sleep.
• Cucumber juice which is a great natural diuretic that also helps promote healthy hair and nails.

Plus, there's nothing as delicious as pure, fresh juice. The wonderful aromas and real flavors are better than store bought juices that contain preservatives, unhealthy refined sugars, and water. I've been juicing for years to boost my immunity, improve digestion, and enhance the detoxification process. Click here to see more of my favorite juice and shake recipes.

Go ahead, start today!

Remember, a few simple changes in the amount and types of fruits and vegetables you eat can make a big difference in your immunity, energy, heart, and how well you age. In fact, start tonight and enjoy a nice fresh spinach salad with dinner!

Whether you add more of these life-giving foods to your daily meals, enjoy a glass of fresh juice, or start eating just one ReBAR a day, you'll do your health and body a big favor.

Till next time,
Dr. David Williams

P.S. I'm sure many of you know also know easy ways to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Whether it's a great recipe or fun snacking tips, drop me a line, I'd love to hear from you. Happy, healthy eating to you!