A Breakfast for Champions

And I am not talking about Wheaties here. Put away that box of corn syrup and sugar and fill up your bowl with something fresh and healthy. This is my latest favorite breakfast: fresh mixed berries, bananas, raw sunflower seeds, crushed raw walnuts and almonds, and local raw organic wildflower honey.

Here are some the benefits of the ingredients in this fabulous breakfast.

Dark colored berries like blueberries, blackberries and raspberries (all seen here) contain powerful antioxidants. Berries contain phytochemicals and flavonoids. Eating a diet rich in berries can help reduce your risk of several types of cancers. Blueberries and raspberries also have lutein which is important for healthy vision. Raspberries are also rich in anthocyanins and phytochemicals such as ellagic, coumaric and ferulic acid which can fight cancer.

For more on the health benefits of berries, go here.

Raw sunflower seeds will take care of your hunger, while improving your health by supplying significant amounts of vitamin E, magnesium and selenium. Phytosterols, present in sunflower seeds, are compounds found in plants that have a chemical structure very similar to cholesterol. When these compounds are part of our diets in good amounts, they may reduce blood levels of cholesterol, improve the immune response and decrease risk of certain cancers. They also contain magnesium which is necessary for energy production. The list for these little seeds can go on and on.

Almonds lower ldl-cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. High in fat? Yes, but it's good fat. They are are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of fats that are in olive oil and are associated with reduced risk of heart disease. Whole almonds provide the most heart health benefits. Almonds are also high in protein. One fourth of a cup has about 7 1/2 grams-more protein than is provided by the typical egg, which contains about 5 1/2 grams. How's that for a vegan dream?

Walnuts are high in Omega 3's fatty acids which can help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. They can reverse and prevent high blood pressure. They also decrease pain and inflammation throughout your body and may help prevent breast and colon cancer. These acids can also help to reverse and prevent depression and other mental/emotional health challenges.

There are numerous benefits of consuming raw local honey. If you suffer from allergies, a spoonful a day can be very beneficial. For more on raw local honey, click here.

Now, do you really want to pour those Wheaties in that bowl?