An Apple a Day is ... Boring

Looking for alternative nutrition sources? We've picked some of our favorites

By Cristina Mestre

Check out Sports Illustrated Women's September issue, on newsstands now.

Best Calcium Supplement
Most calcium supplements come in one of two formulations: calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. "Carbonate has a higher concentration of calcium but is less absorbable. Citrate is not easily packed into pill form, so it tends to be more costly," says Mary Laya, M.D., of the University of Washington Medical Center. Go for the less-expensive calcium carbonate, aiming for 500 milligrams of calcium per pill. The worst supplements are those from bone meal, dolomite or oyster shells, because of a contamination risk from lead, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium or mercury.

Best Fruit You've Never Heard Of

Courtesy of www.sambazon.com

Found in the Brazilian Amazon the purple açaí (ah-sigh-ee) palm fruit (pictured at right) has 30 times the amount of antioxidants of red wine and contains essential fatty acids and vitamins C and E, all of which help reduce cholesterol and prevent cancer and heart disease. Sambazon in Newport Beach, Calif., is importing the fruit, pureeing it and adding guarana for a caffeinelike kick. Skateboarder Jen O'Brien and surfer Malia Jones take their cue from the Brazilians and add açaí, which tastes nutty and has hints of chocolate, to smoothies or they spoon it over granola or yogurt. (877-726-2296, www.sambazon.com)

Best Antioxidant Sources
Aging, stress and pollution contribute to the formation of free radicals within our cells, which combine with other molecules and start chain reactions in a process called oxidation. Antioxidants such as vitamin C remove free radicals inside the cell and keep the cell membrane healthy. Watermelons contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that belongs to the beta-carotene family and helps prevent heart disease and cancer, according to the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Fresh herbs, such as oregano, dill, thyme, rosemary and peppermint, contain more antioxidants than many fruits and vegetables, according to a study published last fall in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Oils that give citrus fruits like oranges and lemons their scent, called monoterpenes, are mainly found in the peel. A Purdue University study found that these oils may help prevent cancer, so add grated peels to baked goods, fish dishes, soups, vegetable dishes or breads.

Best Organic Veggie Fix
Freeze-dried organic fruits and vegetables can be eaten as a snack, added to soups and salads or mixed into burgers. The freeze drying process, which removes 97% of water, retains more nutrients than traditional air drying and adds a satisfying crunch. Newly available Blackbird Crunchies Organic Veggies (by former Chez Panisse chef Brien Seay) offers sweet corn, sweet pea and a mix of bell peppers, carrots, corn, peas and tomatoes. (805-565-4625, www.blackbirdfood.com)

Best Sweetener
Blackstrap molasses is the dark, thick syrup that remains after the last extraction of sugar from cane. Two tablespoons provide seven milligrams of iron, compared with 4.5 milligrams in one cup of cooked lima beans, and 20% of the daily recommended calcium and magnesium. And the worst sweetener? White sugar, with absolutely no nutritional value. (800-236-5880, www.northfarm.com)

Best New Way to Get Soy Protein
Now available nationally, NutriSoy's pasta is made from flour containing 90% soy-that means seven grams of soy protein per serving, nearly a third of the 25 grams in the USDA daily recommendation. Soy7 pasta tastes like wheat-based pasta and has the same texture. In May 2001 it replaced traditional pasta in the public schools of Littleton, Colo., which is near the company's Denver base-with no hint of student revolt. (www.Soy7.com)

Check out Sports Illustrated Women's September issue, on newsstands now.