Did you know that within your grocery store lies a plethora of foods that provide so much more than just basic nutrition? These are typically known as "functional foods" and can help you lead a healthier, longer and happier life - foods that you probably never considered putting in your shopping cart! Functional foods are a growing trend in our society, but what exactly are they? They are defined as foods eaten for specified health purposes, because of their rich content of one or more nutrients that might provide health benefits. Including these foods in your daily diet can help you achieve optimum health - you can not only enhance the quality of your life, but also reduce your healthcare costs due to fewer visits to the doctor for issues that can easily be addressed with the right diet. Read on to learn how to use functional foods to maintain a healthy heart, help prevent cancer and keep your skin and hair looking great!

Healthy Heart, Healthy Life

Research shows that many functional foods promote cardiovascular health, which is essential to leading an active, long life.

Oats - Oat products are a great dietary source of the cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber b-glucan, and studies show that the consumption of b-glucan can reduce total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.

Soy - Studies show that among many other benefits such as bone health, soy products also play preventative and therapeutic roles in cardiovascular disease due to the cholesterol-lowering effect of soy.

Garlic - Garlic also aides in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease due to its antihypertensive properties and cholesterol-lowering effects.

Wine and Grapes - There is growing evidence that wine, particularly red wine, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Wine contains phenolic substances, which prevent the oxidation of LDL, a critical event in the development of fatty deposits in the arteries.

Reduce Your Cancer Risk at the Grocery Store

Lowering your risk of developing a number of cancers is as easy as picking the right foods at the grocery store, according to scientific research. Fill your cart up with the following functional foods to do your best to ensure lifelong health.

Green and Black Teas -These teas not only reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but they also lower the risk of many type of cancers (colon, prostate, skin) because of the antioxidants they contain. Antioxidants work by stabilizing free radicals, which play a role in the development of cancer.

Tomatoes - Consuming _ a cup a day of fresh tomato, or any processed tomato products, will also help to lower your risk of prostate cancer. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is the most abundant carotenoid in the prostate gland and it serves an antioxidant function to prevent the onset of cancer.

Cruciferous Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts also reduce cancer risk because they contain cancer-protective compounds. One compound in particular called sulforaphane has been shown to improve the liver's ability to detoxify carcinogens and other toxic compounds.

Citrus Fruits - In addition to providing important nutrients such as Vitamin C, folate and fiber, citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits are protective against many cancers because they contain flavanones, which bolster cellular antioxidant defenses and give free-radicals (and the damage they cause) the one-two punch.

Healthy Hair and Skin Reflect a Healthy Body

Research says the right foods can also keep your tresses shiny and your skin glowing. These functional foods can be added to any diet to help you keep your hair and skin as healthy as possible.

Water -This one may sound simple, but it is crucial to maintaining healthy hair and skin. Moisture makes hair supple, so getting plenty of it will insure your hair's health. Water also helps your skin from the inside out by washing away toxins which allows your skin to glow with health.

Flaxseed - Ground flaxseed is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and studies show it promotes good skin health and helps with acne since the omega-3's encourage thinning of the oily sebum that clogs pores. The omega-3's found in flaxseed oil are also shown to contribute to healthy hair and nail growth.

Beef contains loads of zinc, which is necessary for building hair protein and in preventing hair loss. It also promotes the healing of tissue which helps prevent scarring and can even help fight acne by regulating the activity of the oil glands. Other sources of zinc are raw oysters, squash and pumpkin seeds and wheat germ.

Shellfish like lobster, crab and shrimp are a good source of copper, which is involved in the pigmentation of hair. Getting the right amount of copper in your diet can optimize your natural color. Copper also aids in tissue damage which can be caused by acne. Other good sources of copper are liver and fresh veggies.

Carrots - Think like a rabbit and load up on these little treats. Carrots provide you with plenty of Vitamin A which, in the right amount, can help maintain the health of your hair and skin. You can protect your scalp from itchiness and flakes with other foods that are rich in beta carotene such as sweet potatoes, mangoes, and red or yellow bell pepper. Vitamin A also strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and prevents acne.

It is easy to see how so many different "functional foods" can help promote a healthy lifestyle. By simply choosing the right foods at the market, you can build a healthy diet that prevents cardiovascular disease, reduces the risk of many types of cancer and even help you maintain healthy skin and hair. So next time you're at the store filling up your shopping cart, make sure pick up these foods, because staying healthy just got easier!