Health.com has a nice list of 9 new superfoods for women. I have no idea why these are specifically for women - LOL. They seem like good foods for anyone. But how do they stack up from the perspective of a Crohnie? Remember, we like to avoid stuff that is hard to digest, has seeds, etc.
So what's on the trendy healthy food list today?
1. If you like oranges, try kiwifruit. Well - I hate to break it to you but they struck out on this first one at least for me. First of all kiwi has wickid seeds in it. (Although you could certainly cut out the seeds.) Anyway, its off my list because I am allergic to it. Tastes yummy though. I will sneak a piece or two sometimes.
2. If you like broccoli, try mushrooms. Great idea. Mushrooms are yummy - I like the plain old moonlight mushrooms sauteed in butter, in beef stroganoff, or stuffed with tasty stuffing and broiled in the toaster oven. Yum. According to the article mushrooms have tons of "phytochemicals, natural compounds that may help prevent cancer."
3. If you love blueberries, try raspberries. Again, for the Crohn's patient those seeds in the raspberries are problematic. I think if you cooked them and strained out the seeds, as if for jelly, it would be great, though. I wonder if there is any health benefit in Peperidge Farms Raspberry Turnovers. No, I didn't think so. They are so buttery they pretty much kill your daily calorie requirements all by themselves. I am not admitting to anything here on the grounds that I may incriminate myself. Hey, we all need a comfort food every once in a while, right.
4. If you love almonds, try walnuts. Well, walnuts and other nuts are not going to be a a good list if you are flaring, but for people in remission they may be ok. They do not seem to bother me - actually, living in Georgia, I can get really fresh pecans and I like to use those instead of walnuts in cookies, etc. Pecans don't have that bitter walnut taste, so I prefer them. Quote from the article: "walnuts are brimming with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 fat that not only helps prevent heart disease but may boost brain function, memory, and mood. One serving, about 14 shelled walnut halves, provides 2.5 grams of omega-3s—a smart amount for daily intake."
5. If you love black beans, try red beans. Yeah, here we go with things that are hard to digest. :::shakes head::: I would go careful with beans because if you already have problems with gas from the Crohn's beans are going to be risky.
6. If you love spinach, try swiss chard. It has lutien, b vitamins, and good phytonutrients. They recommend trying it this way: "Chop chard, and sauté it in olive oil. Or add finely chopped Swiss chard to soups or omelets." I think the trick with chard, spinach, and other greens such as my favorite collard greens is to cook the heck out of them. Try them southern style cooked with chopped onion and maybe some panchetta (smoked pork) and cook for a long long time. Go with a test here, as greens are not possible for some people with Crohn's.
7. If you love salmon, try sardines. High in rich in omega-3s, and low in mercury. Sardines are a sustainable choice as salmon is becoming over-fished. I don't have any recommendations here. My mom eats sardines canned in tomatoes and I have tasted them - they are ok. But they just look gross to me. I may have to figure out a recipe to use these. I bet you could make a yummy spread for toast.
8. If you like tomatoes, try watermelon. Great idea, and watermelon is in season right now. I would go easy on the fruit, though, as I know it can cause diahhrea for some people. (It does for my 6 year old son, anyway.) According to the article: "one cup of juicy, sweet watermelon serves up more than twice the lycopene (7.8 milligrams) of a fresh tomato." I have heard that tomatoe is a no go for some Crohn's patients, so if they can eat watermelon it might be a good alternative to get lutien.
9. If you like dark chocolate, try pumpkin seeds. Again with the nuts and seeds! Anyone in a flare needs to avoid seeds, so this is not going to work for them. Here's an idea, though - ground pumkin seeds can be added to foods and would not be as hard to digest. I would grind them in a food proccessor or coffee/herb grinder.
