10 feel-good foods for Christmas

10 feel-good foods for Christmas

It may sound too good to be true, but the best Christmas treats can be healthy too. Here's 10 reasons you should have a clear conscience this Christmas.

1. Smoked salmon

An excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids - good for heart health and only 142 calories per 100g portion. Also a good source of protein, with useful amounts of niacin, which help your body break down food for energy.

2. Turkey

High in protein and low in fat - as long as you don't eat the skin! A 100g portion of light meat contains just 2g of fat, although the same sized portion of dark meat contains 4.1g of fat. Apart from protein, turkey is a rich source of niacin.

3. Cranberry sauce

Cranberries contain good amounts of vitamin C. Research from Finland shows that drinking cranberry juice can help beat urinary tract infections, although no work has been carried out on cranberry sauce.

4. Red cabbage

Surprisingly high in calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth and a good source of folate. And, like carrots, red cabbage also contains carotenes.

5. Carrots

A rich source of beta-carotene which your body makes into vitamin A, which is important for good eyesight and healthy skin. The darker in colour the carrot, the more beta-carotene it contains. Carrots are also high in potassium - needed to regulate fluid balance in the body - and, like most vegetables, are low in calories. Research shows that cooked carrots are beneficial for your health - cooking releases carotenoids, antioxidants that are thought to protect against cancer.