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Excerpted from
www.beliefnet.com
Trying to eat healthy? Start by opening your Bible
to Deuteronomy 8:8, where the Israelites are
promised "a good land…, a land of wheat and barley,
of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive
trees and honey." The ancients might not have known
the word "antioxidant," but they were onto something
with this list of biblical "super-foods." Explore
this gallery to find out exactly how on-target they
were.
Super Food #1: Wheat
 This grain, which is found in everything from bread
to pasta to cakes, is healthier when it is refined
as little as possible. Whole-wheat products (those
that are certified 100% whole wheat) contain 30
percent of your recommended daily fiber intake, as
well as high levels of manganese and magnesium. A
diet rich in whole grains is also thought to
increase your energy level and lower your risk of
type-2 diabetes, gallstones, and other health
issues.
Super Food #2:
Barley
Another whole grain, barley can be found in breads
and cereals, as well as in hearty winter soups. High
in fiber, barley is good for intestinal health and
can lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of colon
cancer and type-2 diabetes if eaten regularly.
Barley also contains trace amounts of copper, which
have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of
arthritis.
Super Food #3:
Grapes
 Everyone knows that grape juice and red
wine are tasty—but healthy? Grapes contain
nutritional compounds called flavonoids, which are
believed to reduce your risk of blood clots and
protect your body from damage by the "free radicals"
found in LDL, or "bad," cholesterol. Rich in
antioxidants, grapes may provide protection against
cardiovascular disease, particularly in women.
Super Food #4:
Figs
 These sweet fruits, eaten either dried or fresh, are
high in potassium, a mineral that helps control
blood pressure. They are also high in dietary fiber,
which may help you lose weight, and they are a fruit
source of calcium, which can help preserve bone
density. Fig leaves, which are not typically eaten
but can be made into an extract, are thought to help
lower insulin levels in diabetics.
Super Food #5:
Pomegranate
 These strange-looking seed fruits are back in vogue
as health-giving super-foods, particularly in juice
form. The fruits are rich in antioxidants, which
prevent LDL cholesterol from doing its damage, and
it helps prevent blood clots by keeping blood
platelets from clumping together. Pomegranates may
also help reduce the risk of breast cancer and
lessen the symptoms of arthritis.
Super Food #6:
Olive Oil
Olives, and the extra-virgin oil that is made from a
single pressing of the fruit, contain many of the
antioxidants that are thought to protect against the
oxidation of LDL cholesterol compounds. They also
are high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which are
called "the healing fats" because they lower the
effects of "bad" cholesterol while raising "good"
cholesterol levels. High in vitamin E, olive oil
also is thought to protect against colon cancer, and
it is helpful in fighting gastritis and other
stomach ailments.
Super Food #7:
Honey
 Raw honey, in addition to being a natural
sweetener, is replete with antioxidants and is
considered to be an anti-viral, anti-bacterial,
anti-fungal substance. It is thought to have
tumor-fighting properties, and may help prevent
colon cancer. The daily consumption of a spoonful of
honey is said to increase antioxidant levels in the
blood, and is the healthiest sweetener for type-2
diabetics. Honey also may have wound-healing and
muscle-regenerating properties.
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