Tomatoes    Several studies have linked the cooked tomatoes in ketchup, soups and sauces to a reduced risk of prostate cancer and other cancers of the digestive tract. Tomatoes contain lycopene, probably the most powerful antioxidant among the carotenoids, the compounds that turn fruits and veggies deep orange.

Spinach      Spinach is loaded with iron and folate, a B vitamin considered so important that it is now routinely added to flour. Folate not only prevents neural-tube defects in babies but also lowers blood levels of homocysteine, anamino acid that irritates blood vessels and is linked to heart disease.

Red Wine       The skins of the grapes used to make red wine contain supercharged antioxidants known as polyphenols, including one called resveratrol, which boosts HDL cholesterol ( the good kind) . Polyphenols, according to the latest research, may also inhibit the production of endothelin ,a peptide that contributes to hardening of the arteries.

Nuts      The types of fat found in nuts are the good fats. When  eaten instead of junk food high in saturated fats (like potato  chips and doughnuts) , nuts lower blood levels of triglycerides and LDL 

Oats        Oats contain beta-glucan, a spongy, soluble fiber that mops up the precursors of cholesterol in the intestines and whisks them out of the body. New evidence suggests that oats may also help lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Salmon         Salmon boast omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s prevent platelets in the  blood from clumping together. They also drive down triglycerides and LDL ( bad) cholesterol. Even more tantalizing, omega-3s interact with the fatty layers that surround brain cells.