NatNews

It’s no secret that some foods are more beneficial than others for your body. Even when it comes to healthy snacks and meals, there are certain options that can do more for you. Though superfoods are not an official nutritionally recognized category, the Cleveland Clinic describes them as nutrient-dense natural foods that are typically low in calories.

Dallas-area resident and registered dietitian Lyndsey Kohn said she believes “superfood” is more of a marketing term but that individuals who focus on eating whole foods will benefit from high fiber content, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. While she may not always intentionally incorporate superfoods into her life, she said she tends to do so naturally.

“I eat a fairly whole-foods-based diet that already has what I would define as superfoods—things like dark leafy greens, berries, legumes, fatty fish, etc.,” she said. “I’ll take some supplements or teas—like ashwagandha, green tea, chia seeds, flaxseed, to name a few—but they are just a part of my everyday routine and my normal diet.”

Dallas-area resident Jeremy Crum said he believes that superfoods have positive side effects on his gut health and energy, as fast food and greasy foods tend to bog him down, but they aren’t necessarily top of mind.

“I don’t think about intentionally adding superfoods into my diet,” he said. “I do naturally like some of these, so berries or almonds are a typical snack for me, or I may have salads and veggies with my dinner.”

Although each superfood has different nutritional qualities, in general, they are associated with heart health, stronger immune systems, cancer prevention, reduced inflammation, and lower cholesterol levels. Examples include avocados, berries, chia seeds, beets, cinnamon, dark leafy greens, garlic, ginger, lentils, salmon, and yogurt. Kohn particularly advises eating fatty fish on a regular basis.

“Incorporating more omegas into your diet is so beneficial to your brain health, and there is a substantial amount of research behind that,” she said. “Most Americans struggle with cardiovascular indications, like high cholesterol (especially high HDL levels), so eating foods like this can help with balancing this out and lowering your HDL alongside a high-fiber, whole-foods-based diet.”

Crum said those who are seeking to change their diets to ensure that they are eating more nutrient-dense, lower-calorie foods should do so gradually in order to avoid immediate burnout.

“I think it can be done in moderation while slowly increasing the amount over time,” he said. “For me, if I try to go from a ‘normal’ meal to a superfood-intensive meal, it can be an overload and possibly a deterrent.”

Similarly, Kohn said she thinks it’s wise for individuals to add more superfoods—and, quite honestly, any foods that result in better overall health—to their snacks and meals.

“I’m always pro the idea of someone trying a new healthy food if it’s a behavior change in a positive direction,” she said. “I would start with the actual food you are eating on a daily basis versus taking expensive green supplements or the latest trending vitamin brand. That said, if you want to buy that green supplement because it helps you on your journey, go for it!”

Last year, Illinois maintained its lead in pumpkin acreage with 17,600 acres and produced 634 million pounds of pumpkins, more than the other five most productive states—California, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia—combined.

It’s been 12 years since the Texas Rangers were in the World Series, and that’s a memory that most fans don’t like to think about—after all, it’s painful to recall being one pitch away from being World Series champs. Twice.

Dallas-area resident Valerie Vela began going to Rangers games when she moved to the metroplex in 1984, and while she hasn’t forgotten the past, she is excited about the run her team has made so far this postseason.

“The 2011 series is always in the back of my mind,” she said. “To get within one strike of winning the World Series and then lose it all was soul-crushing. Now that time has passed, I can see that sometimes adversity makes the triumphant moments that much more rewarding.”

Dallas-area resident Theo Hone became a Rangers fan when he moved to Dallas in 2012, and he’s not worried about the epic collapse from more than a decade ago having an effect on this season’s outcome.

“This team is young and hungry, and there are certainly some similarities if you try really hard to see them,” he said. “But I think 2011 is a fan issue and not one this team spends any time thinking about.”

A hardcore fan since the team moved here in 1972, Dallas resident Kevin Roberts said while 2011 was also exciting, there’s no need to compare the run the Rangers are making this time around.

“Absolutely everything is different now—from coaches to players to the stadium to the general manager,” he said. “I love this team’s enthusiasm, and they are fun to watch. This might be the best defensive team we’ve ever had, and the offense is explosive. The bullpen has probably increased alcohol sales in the metroplex, though.”

Dallas-area resident Rachel Balthrop Mendoza said she has cheered on the Rangers since the day she entered the world, and she has stuck with them through all of the good and all of the bad.

“I’ll follow (and have followed—because, hey, we know how some of the metroplex’s teams have done things over the last 20 years) my teams into a ditch if that’s where they land,” she said. “To see the Rangers come from losing 100 games two seasons ago to this is so uplifting and exciting as the homer I am.”

Balthrop Mendoza lived in San Antonio during the Rangers’ 2010 and 2011 World Series appearances, so she is even more thrilled because she’s actually in the metroplex in the midst of it all for this year’s quest. The enthusiasm she experiences when she thinks about the current team cannot be contained.

“They have such great stories among them, too, like Garcia being essentially rejected by all teams and then picked up by us,” she said. “Not to mention that awesome kid Evan Carter’s ability. Holy cow—dude just got called up six weeks ago! He’s 21 years old and making historic plays. It’s just so neat to see how they all gel with each other and with [Bruce] Bochy as manager.”

Hone also has confidence in this group, saying the Rangers are a year ahead of schedule and that he believes they have as good of a chance to win a championship as one could hope for and are truly fun to watch.

“[Corey] Seager and [Marcus] Semien are both great leaders playing well and setting the tone for the team—they are dudes who win,” he said. “The rest of the team are kids who are under control for a while and already look like some of the best in the league, so if we can figure out pitching, this team could be one that delivers multiple deep October runs in the coming years. As a fan, having that realistic hope is the best you can ask for.”

The Rangers are tied 1-1 with the Diamondbacks going into Monday night’s Game 3. Vela, who held season tickets in 2016, said she thinks this team’s journey to the World Series has taken many people by surprise—but in the best way.

“I love that the team is having fun, and even if they don’t win it all, I’ve loved the ride of watching and experiencing the postseason magic,” she said. “That said, as a longtime Rangers fan, I really, really want them to win it all!”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff members + dear readers celebrate our IT department the only way he prefers—in costume

Monday, October 30: TNSR's 12th Annual Halloween Social Run & Party at Legacy Hall; Texas Rangers World Series (Game 3) Watch Party at Legacy Hall
Wednesday, November 1: Mavs vs. Bulls at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, November 2: National Traffic Directors Day
Friday, November 3: Dallas Autumn Ball — 10th Anniversary Celebration at Hotel Zaza; Silent Disco at Klyde Warren Park
Saturday, November 4: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint
Sunday, November 5: Daylight Saving Time ends