It’s definitely nice to know that the Times was thinking about regular people and regular grocery stores when they made this list (for example, you won’t find any pleas to track down and eat foods like arrowroot or Cornish game hens), but honestly, who is going to read this list and think, “Swiss chard and fresh beets! Now that I know this, I’d better get a move on to the grocery store!”?

Without further ado, I present to you the list and my own personal commentary on each food:

1. Beets. I’m not going to lie; I actually kind of like beets, but I haven’t eaten them for years, not since they were prepared for me from a can in my school’s cafeteria. Actually, that’s not true—I did buy some actual fresh beets a few weeks ago and try to cook them in the oven, but it was a disaster. They ended up not softening enough and dyeing those hard-to-reach spots between my fingernails fuchsia for two days.

2. Swiss chard. I hear this is good stuff, nutritionally. I have never heard that it is good stuff taste-wise, though. I mean, a friend has never leaned toward me conspiratorially and said, “Know where you can get some great Swiss chard?” For that reason (and for the reason that I am intimidated by leafy greens in general—I don’t like the texture), I will not be busting out the chard anytime soon.

3. Turmeric. Because my boyfriend is Indian and I make volumes of curry at home, I use turmeric in dishes at least once or twice a week. I am still perplexed, though, as to how ½ tsp of turmeric per week can make any kind of healthful difference. That’s such a small amount. Turmeric is pretty expensive, too, and it makes everything you eat fluorescent yellow, so it seems like this will not catch on among the masses.

4. Cinnamon. I eat this, but so does everyone else. Cinnamon? Seriously? This list should be limited to things that people do not eat.

5. Cabbage. I do love a little bit of cabbage every now and then, but again, it’s one of those foods that you just have to work into your diet. Nobody answers “cabbage” when you ask, “what’s your favorite food?”

6. Pomegranate juice. I’m not even sure if I know what this is, but if it was tasty and affordable, I might be able to get into the habit of drinking it.

7. Pumpkin seeds. Oh, man. Don’t people fry these up and eat them at Halloween? Apparently they’re good for you.

8. Prunes. I totally ate these all the time as a kid! I should resurrect them… I always did like prunes. They leave a kind of nasty sticky substance on your hands, though.

9. Frozen blueberries. I am not making this up—the article actually specifies that the blueberries are frozen (because that way they’re available year-round, it claims). But it’s summer. What’s wrong with fresh blueberries?

10. Sardines. Yeah—uh, no, thank you. Never. Ever.

11. Canned pumpkin. This makes great cookies, but somehow I don’t think that’s what the New York Times had in mind. Oh, well!

[pom pic from www.tradinorganic.com] 

University of California scientists have gone a step further with the whole “pomegranate juice is totally healthy” theory. According to a study that tested “53 men with impotence problems”, the antioxidants in pomegranate juice (which “increase blood supply to the genitals”) helped nearly half of the study participants perform better in the bedroom.

Besides possibly helping dudes everywhere satisfy their mate in the bedroom, pomegranate juice has also “been associated with reducing the risk of heart disease and preventing prostate cancer.”

With all this great research behind it, why not buy some pomegranate juice for all the men in your life this year? (just block out whole better-than-Viagra part when it comes to your dad) It’s tasty, healthy, and has a festive red color, making it perfect for holiday stocking stuffers!

Need an extra incentive to start loving pom juice? Try out this double chocolate brownie recipe that’s bursting with pomegranate goodness!