Let's Talk Power Foods

Let's Talk Power Foods

Blueberries

What exactly are power foods? Well, they're just foods that happen to do amazing things for your body. Sometimes people call them "Superfoods" or "Magic foods" or "Foods for Health." But I call them Power Foods, because they restore power to our bodies. They help our bodies to reclaim their health.

Different Power Foods do different things, obviously, as they are packed with different vitamins, minerals, nutrients, proteins, sugars, etc. In this post today, I am going to share with you a few of my favorite Power Foods that address these key areas:

Power Foods & Drinks to:

Boost Metabolism & Increase Energy

Improve Focus, Memory, & Mood

Increase Sex Drive

Cleanse & Detox

Fight Belly Fat

Improve Skin & Diminish Signs of Aging

Prevent & Fight Cancer

Build Muscle

Grow Healthier Hair & Improve Eyesight & Hearing 

Improve Bowel Function

 So please, enjoy this post on Power Foods & maybe even bookmark it for later, so that you can write a healthy, powerful new list for the grocery store.

Power Foods & Drinks to Boost Metabolism & Increase Energy

Broccoli

Avocado
Spinach
Broccoli
Salmon
Sardines
Pistachios
Dried Apricots
Walnuts
Bolthouse Farms Protein Shakes
Chili Peppers
Chick Peas
Lentils
Tempeh
Asparagus
Bananas
Black Beans
Brown Rice
Quinoa
Green Tea
Yogurt
Almonds
Edamame
Soy Protein Powder
Tofu
Halibut
Tuna
Amaranth
Hempseeds
Pork
Chicken
Eggs
Cottage Cheese
Coffee
Milk
Water
Potatoes
Squash
Orange Juice
Pumpkin
Carrots
Apples
Cashews
Pecans
Walnuts
Mushrooms
Clams
Raspberries
Grapefruit

Power Foods & Drinks to Improve Focus, Memory, & Mood

Salmon

Oatmeal

Avocado

Broccoli

Blueberries

Beans

Chia Seeds

Dark Chocolate

Quinoa

Collard Greens

Red Cabbage

Rosemary

Spinach

Sunflower Seeds

Garlic

Tomatoes

Salmon

Olive Oil

Peanuts

Ginger

Red Wine

Strawberries

Kale

Butternut Squash

Carrots

Water

Coffee

Walnuts

Trout

Kiwi Fruit

Grapes

Shrimp

Oysters

Curry

Acai Berries

Ginseng

Sage

Parsley

Green Tea

Flax Seeds

Sweet Potatoes

Almonds

Eggs

Lentils

Hemp Seeds

Clams

Shrimp

Brazil Nuts

Chicken

Honey

Chamomile Tea

Potatoes

Salt

Green Beans

Peaches

Lemonade

Bananas

Figs

Power Foods & Drinks to Increase Sex Drive

Strawberries

Black Raspberries

Cloves

Figs

Watermelon

Broccoli

Celery

Eggs

Oysters

Strawberries

Asparagus

Avocados

Spinach

Wine (Not in excess)

Dark Chocolate

Pumpkin Seeds

Chilies

Garlic (Raw is best)

Steak (6 oz. or less)

Salmon

Cranberry Juice

Oatmeal

Peaches

Kale

Almonds

Almond Milk

Sweet Potatoes

Sesame Seeds

Pine Nuts

Ginseng Tea

Bananas

Green Tea

Water

Cabbage

Cashews

Sunflower Seeds

Blueberries

Brown Rice

Saffron 

Jasmine

Lettuce

Power Foods & Drinks to Cleanse & Detox

Basil

Water

Artichokes

Asparagus

Avocado

Beets

Basil

Broccoli

Cabbage

Dandelions

Garlic

Dandelion Root Tea

Ginger

Cayenne Pepper

Aloe Vera

Green Tea

Grapefruit

Kale

Lemongrass

Lemons

Olive Oil

Seaweed

Turmeric

Watercress

Wheatgrass

Brazil Nuts

Goji Berries

Acai Berries

Onions

Sesame Seeds

Spinach 

Collard Greens

Pineapple

Oregano

Cinnamon

Tomatoes

Fennel

Parsley

Apples

Cilantro

Flax Seeds

Chia Seeds

Dill 

Celery

Cucumbers

Power Foods & Drinks to Fight Belly Fat

Cucumber

Grapefruit

Cucumber

Water

Fennel

Dandelion Root Tea

Oatmeal

Brown Rice

Green Tea

Lemons

Almonds

Watermelon

Celery

Tomatoes

Avocado

Tart Cherries

Pineapple

Pears

Peaches

Apples

Spinach

Kale

Collard Greens

Lettuce

Chia Seeds

Hemp Seeds

Salmon

Almond Milk

Cilantro

Power Foods & Drinks to Improve Skin & Diminish Signs of Aging

Oats

Water

Green Tea

Turkey

Almonds

Brown Rice

Edamame

Oats (Oatmeal)

Spinach

Tuna

Kale

Potatoes

Collard Greens

Pomegranates

Carrots

Kiwi Fruit

Blueberries

Dark Chocolate

Garlic

Tomatoes

Olive Oil

Salmon

Broccoli

Walnuts

Sardines

Sage

Parsley

Paprika

Peppers

Almond Milk

Yogurt

Plums

Canola Oil

Cod Liver Oil

Power Foods & Drinks to Prevent & Fight Cancer

Raspberries

Papaya

Broccoli

Spinach

Tomatoes

Ginger

Beets

Kale

Garlic

Collard Greens

Lemon

Water

Walnuts

Acai Berry

Navy Beans

Black Beans

Grapefruit

Apple Cider Vinegar

Raspberries

Avocado

Salmon

Aloe Vera

Cauliflower

Orange Juice

Lettuce

Apricots

Watermelon

Cabbage

Carrots

Peppers

Red Cabbage

Sunflower Seeds

Blueberries

Shrimp

Dandelions

Cashews

Almond Milk

Pomegranate

Grapes

Kiwi Fruit

Mushrooms

Onions

Oregano

Basil

Pumpkin Seeds

Almonds

Strawberries

Apples

Pears

Yogurt

Green Tea

Power Foods & Drinks to Build Muscle

Eggs

Pistachios

Brown Rice

Cantaloupe

Black Beans

Venison

Oysters

Milk

Cheese

Peppers

Flax Seeds

Bison

Elk

Eggs

Salmon

Chicken

Turkey

Pork

Yogurt

Olive Oil

Almonds

Walnuts

Cashews

Blueberries

Cranberries

Broccoli

Cabbage

Bok Choy

Pistachios

Soy Protein Powder

Kale

Spinach

Quinoa

Tomatoes

Orange Juice

Apples

Carrots

Water

Green Tea

Coffee

Bolthouse Farms Protein Shakes

Cottage Cheese

Chickpeas

Lentils

 Power Foods & Drinks to Grow Healthier Hair & Improve Eyesight & Hearing

Carrots

Salmon

Walnuts

Oysters

Sweet Potatoes

Almond Milk

Eggs

Spinach

Almonds

Lentils

Yogurt

Blueberries

Kiwi Fruit

Strawberries

Tomatoes

Edamame 

Kidney Beans

Cottage Cheese

Kale

Collard Greens

Swiss Chard

Arugula

Chicken

Pumpkin Seeds

Trout

Sardines

Soy Flour

Avocado

Oatmeal

Olive Oil

Green Tea

Cucumbers

Lettuce

Carrots

Peppers

Orange Juice

Black Raspberries

Seaweed

Black Currants

Goji Berries

Pumpkin

Garlic 

Green Onions

Papaya

Raisins

Pine Nuts

Celery

Lima Beans

Liver 

Artichokes

Lay's Potato Chips

Honey

Apple Cider Vinegar

Cauliflower

Pineapple

Cod Liver Oil

Red Wine

Power Foods & Drinks to Improve Bowel Function 

Green Beans I grew! (Personal photo)

 Water

Pears

Apples

Yogurt (especially Greek)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Aloe Vera

Chia Seeds

Hemp Seeds

Flax Seeds

Broccoli

Green Beans

Cabbage

Celery

Fennel

Cauliflower

Radishes

Spinach

Lettuce

Kale

Collard Greens

Watercress 

Cucumber

Asparagus

Brown Rice

Navy Beans

Kidney Beans

Green Tea

Black Beans

Pinto Beans

Peas

Artichokes

Raspberries

Prunes

Prune Juice

Lentils

Cranberries

Zucchini

Carrots

Chamomile Tea

Popcorn

Figs

Raisins

Pecans

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Bananas

Chives

Cilantro

Basil

Canola Oil

Olive Oil

Coconut

Which Power Foods & Drinks will YOU be picking up the next time you're at the Grocery Store, Dairy, Butcher's Shop, or Farmer's Market?

(ALL PHOTOS USED - UNLESS NOTED OR MARKED OTHERWISE - ARE COURTESY OF FREE FOOD PHOTOS)

Are YOU at a High Risk Level for Cancer?

Do you know if you are at a high risk level for cancer or not? 

Am I likely to get cancer?

Take this short quiz to find out. (Answer honestly if you want the honest truth.)

Are YOU at a High Risk Level for Cancer?

1. Is there a history of cancer in your family? YES or NO

2. Are you overweight or obese? YES or NO

3. Do you spend most of your time indoors as opposed to out in nature? YES or NO

4. Do you lack regular physical activity &/or a regular exercise routine? YES or NO

5. Do you binge drink or drink excessively? YES or NO

6. When you DO drink socially, do you smoke cigarettes as well? YES or NO

7. Do you indulge in toxins such as high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, cigarettes, or cocaine? YES or NO

8. Do you tan in tanning beds? YES or NO

9. Are you sexually active with multiple partners continually? YES or NO

10. Do you eat LESS than 5 servings of fruits & vegetables a day? YES or NO

11. Do you have Type 2 Diabetes? YES or NO

12. Do you have high blood pressure or heart problems? YES or NO

13. Do you get LESS than 6 hours of sleep a night on average? YES or NO

14. Do you drink LESS than 8 glasses of water a day? YES or NO

15. Do you spend a lot of time worrying, over-thinking, & over-analyzing things &/or do you suffer from anxiety, depression, substance abuse, or PTSD? YES or NO

RESULTS

For every YES, give yourself 1 point. For every NO, add 0 points.

0-5 Points: Low Risk

The good news is that you are at a low risk for developing cancer. Awesome! The bad news is that "low risk" does not equal "NO risk" though, so it is important that you continue to make good choices when it comes to your health & well-being. 

5-10 Points: Average Risk

Okay... you are at about the same place as MOST of the American population. You have an "average risk" of developing cancer. The good news is that you can start doing better & lowering your risk TODAY! Look at what you're eating & putting into your body, change your habits, get some more sleep, quit smoking or drinking so much, get outside, & get physical! You can take control of your health!

10-15 Points: High Risk

This may be hard news to take, but it is important to know; you are at a HIGH RISK of developing cancer! You HAVE to start making changes NOW or you are almost guaranteed a shortened life span. Don't condemn yourself to an early grave - start small & change your life!!

(The information contained in this quiz comes from years of education, training, & personal research as related to fitness, health, nutrition, wellness, spirituality, and cancer. I am NOT a medical doctor. If you are concerned after taking this quiz, please schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your fears & establish a plan of action. Then, feel free to make use of all the free online resources The PonchoMeg Program has to offer in order to lower your cancer risk & get your life on track!)

I became CONFIDENT when I was FAT!

Confidence is an interesting thing. Having a lack of confidence can lead to all sorts of forms of self-hate, like down talking oneself, over-eating, involving oneself in reckless behaviors, developing depression and self-loathing, and more. Having too much confidence can be a bad thing too - but only if it is false confidence; the kind that puts others down and gives you an egotistical, self-righteous attitude. You know what I mean. And that kind of blatant over confidence is usually just a mask for a lack of real confidence anyway.

So what is real confidence anyway? Loving yourself? Embracing yourself, flaws and all? Not worrying about what others think? Yeah, pretty much. It is the idea that you have gratitude for what you have been given and you KNOW it's great because it is YOU!

I used to lack confidence. Big time. Part of it was because I had this idea in my head that everyone had to love me; that if someone DIDN'T love me, it was something I was doing wrong.  I was putting the responsibility of other people's feelings onto myself!! Crazy! Another part of it, was that I didn't LOOK like the "popular girls" in school or my favorite celebrities, and as someone who loved (and still loves) the idea of fame, success, and celebrity, that bothered me. I couldn't see all the beauty I had right there in front of me; all I saw was fat... & of course, all I thought I lacked.

Which is still kind of strange to me... For basing so much of what I thought about myself on what others thought, I never let the positive side of that affect me. It's weird! I mean, I NEVER had a problem getting a boyfriend (or male attention. Or female attention.) I could flirt with the best of them! People THOUGHT I was attractive and confident. You would think that maybe that would have helped ME think I was attractive and confident. But it didn't. My "false" confidence that I put out there (to be loved) was simply a mask, and it covered my insecurities well. However, my true nature was always revealed...

Most boyfriends I had got too overwhelmed by my excessive need for acceptance and confidence boosting that they would simply check out. Dump me. Other boyfriends used it to their advantage to manipulate me and control me. But I still didn't understand what real confidence was; and I sure in Hell never thought I would have it.

At the beginning of my transition into adult life, when I was a senior in high school, I was 5'9", I weighed 134 lbs, and I looked good! But in my eyes, I was ugly. Hideous even. I was obsessed with looking in the mirror, not out of a narcissistic need to view my beauty, but out of an out of control desire to talk myself down! I projected confidence and happiness without, but inside, I was miserable. And I could see that, even through my self-loathing, every time I checked the mirror...

Then, there was college. In college, my confidence issues had a little less to do with weight and looks, and a bit more with overall "image." I was a bit of a novelty. I was a hippie, bohemian, free-spirit roaming the grounds of a university in the Bible belt of Michigan. Some friends in the music department lovingly called me "Topanga" and people joked that they liked having me around just because I was "just so different!" It's a compliment and a curse, is it not? I felt like I had expectations to live up to. But why? Why couldn't I just be me?

Much of my time in college was spent eating these feelings away and getting depressed and gaining weight...

Mostly through...
-Entire boxes of fudge rounds
-4 bottles of Mountain Dew a day (at least!)
-Carbs!! (I even had a button I used to wear that read "I LOVE Carbs.")
-And very little exercise (with the exceptions being the occasional few months that my roomie & I would get on health kicks)

At first, I just accepted my weight gain as normal. "The Freshman Fifteen." But the "Freshman Fifteen" turned into the "Sophomore Sixty!" By the time I was a Senior in college, I was 189 lbs. Wow. Around that time, my boyfriend of over four years cheated on me. I felt like the ugliest person on the planet.

So I tried to get fit. I worked out. I tried to eat better. That whole summer my boyfriend and I (I stayed with him...) worked out together. And I saw some progress. It was there. But it didn't stick.

By the time I graduated college, I was down to about 160 lbs. Not bad for someone my height. But that is also when everything fell apart.

My boyfriend & I became engaged, but then we ended it completely. It was hard & heartbreaking, & though it needed to be done, & I did it... I felt like a failure. I also started working in my first "real world job..." in the inner city... where I was over worked, under supported, and sick ALL THE TIME!

I was a wreck. I started hanging out with my new boyfriend in East Lansing a lot & eventually made a ritual out of getting drunk every weekend with his neighbor. EVERY WEEKEND!

Eventually, I realized that if I didn't change something(s), not only would my new relationship be just as doomed as the last because I thought so little of myself, but I would LOSE myself completely! I was becoming an alcoholic, & not to mention, fatter & fatter all the time.  So I started to try to turn my life around.

But even as I was trying to make healthier choices, trying to boost my confidence (with the help of my amazing boyfriend Will, my friends, & family), working out, & treating myself a little better, I couldn't seem to lose weight, so I would continue to get very down on myself. Finally, I thought, "maybe I'm just sick." I had already lived with chronic illness for years (chronic pain, chronic UTIs, IBS, ovarian cysts, kidney cysts, allergies, seasonal depression & anxiety) so it didn't seem like a stretch to think that maybe there was something else wrong with me. And you know what: I really WAS sick. Well, more sick. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobility, a gluten-intolerance, & vitamin deficiencies. I also had to have surgery to have polyps removed from my vocal cords.

But more importantly, as I found out just what horrible shape my body was in, & I had my surgery, I realized that my connection to my body, to nature, to life, to LOVE was sick too. That was the most devastating news of all.

By this point in time, I was 198 lbs. It was 2009. I was the heaviest I have ever been in my life! In some peoples' eyes, maybe even the least attractive I have ever been; & that is exactly when I found REAL confidence.

I became a writer online in 2009. It started with my blogs & eHow, & it steadily grew from there. In my writing, I was constantly trying to help others, teach them to love themselves & others, & encouraging the world to spread peace & love. As my presence online grew & as people told me how much I helped them & how beautiful I was, I started to really question all the feelings I held for myself.

I asked myself why I thought other people should feel happy with themselves if I didn't feel happy with myself? My own internal answer surprised me - "they deserve it." Wait... why didn't I?

So I stopped the negative talk. I stopped looking in the mirror so much. I tried to be grateful for what I had, what I was, & what I could be! I imagined myself as a confident goddess & I told myself I could command any room I wanted. And you know what? It started to work. I was 198 lbs, & so happy with myself & how beautiful I was! Yes, I was confident when I was FAT! Take THAT modern entertainment & media!!

But I still wasn't as healthy as I wanted to be. Luckily, with confidence comes the drive inside that says "Bring it! I can conquer any challenge!" So I followed my doctor's advice & went gluten-free for a year to "reset my system," truly learned to listen to my body, & changed my entire outlook on healthy eating, exercise, & really, LIFE!

But I truly believe that if I had not found that confidence, at my lowest (and highest, weight wise) point, I would not be where I am today. Why? Well, I think it's easier to be confident when you fit a certain stereotypical norm of physical beauty. People surrounding you point out your good points continually, because they are more evident to them; you can relate to celebrities & models in magazines; you can see society's descriptions of beauty when you look in the mirror; it's completely different!

(NOTE: This is not to say that super beautiful people by societal norms don't have confidence issues. Some do, of course. They should not be looked upon negatively due to my opinion & should most definitely be helped if they have issues!)

So, I am so grateful & happy that I became CONFIDENT when I was FAT!

It has given me that much more time to grow as a person & become even more confident as I became more healthy & connected to this world. It has given me a strength that I never knew existed within me. And most importantly to me, it has helped me embrace peace & love in a whole new way, & as I feel it is my life mission to spread peace & love, this is truly a most cherished blessing for me!

The confidence that I gained back in 2009 & that I continue to help flourish now, has the power to bring me to tears... of happiness. I feel so grateful, so lucky, so proud. This confidence has helped me:

-Regain faith in myself & my talents
-Lose weight
-Embrace peace, love, & compassion for humanity in a whole new way
-Look more appealing to others (& appreciate the sentiments, but don't rely on them)
-Inspire others
-AND SO MUCH MORE!!

I can't even describe how much confidence (& just pure love for myself) has helped me. I feel like I am constantly receiving new positive gifts in my life just because I love myself, I have confidence in myself, & I continually try to be more positive.

I want so much for all of you to experience those same kinds of gifts.

I do hope my story helps.

FAT. SKINNY. BIG. SMALL. TALL. SHORT. OLD. YOUNG.
WHATEVER YOU ARE IS BEAUTIFUL!!

-Stop with the down talk. Replace it with positive words.
-Love yourself; flaws & all.
-Make a true effort to see the beauty in yourself that others see.
-But stop looking in the mirror so much!
-And don't just "fake it til you make it!" It helps a little, yes. But if you are having a hard time truly maintaining a higher level of confidence & inner positivity, TELL someone who loves you & wants to help. Even if you don't want advice; still tell someone. Let them know that you just need them to listen. It's okay.
-Try to be grateful. If you really think about it, there is a LOT to be grateful for.
-Stop comparing yourself to others! They are probably comparing themselves to you too; thinking that they are flawed compared to some attribute that they've deemed perfect on you! It does no good... We are all unique; beautiful in our own amazing ways. Sometimes we find others who share some similar beauties, & that's groovy. But truly, we are all so different that to compare ourselves like that is such a waste of time; of LIFE!

And as a final note, I would just like to say that I hope you noticed that I included absolutely no pictures in this post, nor did I give you my "secrets" for losing weight & looking the way I do now. Because I hope, that if you read this whole thing, that you realize my point. In the end, it's not about how you LOOK at all; it's about how you FEEL. It's about how you THINK. It's about LOVE. For none of those things do we need the judgment of our eyes.

Peace & Love to ALL!
Meagan