Summer 2009 An Apple a Day

From pomegranates to probiotics
If it’s been some time since you checked to see how your diet stacks up against the food pyramid, you may be in for quite a surprise. In a nation where nearly 60 percent of adults admit they do not eat a balanced diet, it’s no wonder that dietary supplements have become increasingly popular. It’s easy to fall prey to repeated reports about pills and powders that will induce weight loss, increase energy and prolong life, especially when we have less time to eat right and exercise.

“There are so many claims out there that it can seem overwhelming, and consumers don’t know what to make of them,” says Lori Wyble, RD, an oncology dietician at the Hunterdon Regional Medical Center. Wyble cautions her clients to be wary of any product that promises health benefits that seem too good to be true. Although there are no magic pills that can replace what our bodies need to be healthy, there are some pretty amazing foods that can make a difference. Some are so rich in vitamins and nutrients, they’re called “superfoods.” Registered dieticians like Wyble, who teach food first, offer simple ways to make superfoods a staple at every meal.

Get the complete dish on superfoods in the expanded summer issue of New Jersey Countryside Magazine, available now at bookstores, on newsstands and by subscription. Click here to get one free bonus issue and save more than 80% on a subscription.