What if you could slash your risk of heart disease and stroke, beat cancer or diabetes, prevent ulcers, boost brain power and add years to your life simply by savoring a delicious meal or munching on a tasty snack? Experts agree that it's easier to do all this than you think.. "Groundbreaking new research is proving time and time again that many of our most potent remedies come straight from nature in the foods we eat," says food scientist Richard A. King, Ph.D.
  And we're not talking tofu and soy here. Thankfully, scientists are broadening their horizons--and yours--by studying the benefits of a whole new range of foods. Read on to discover the amazing powers of some yummy foods you've probably overlooked--like:

Quince!

Researchers have just discovered that this tart and tangy pear-like fruit contains an anti-aging nutrient called caffeolyquinic acid that keeps arteries young! "Preliminary studies have shown that this acid acts as an antioxidant, mopping up destructive free radical molecules which contribute to heart disease," says researcher Murray Kilpatrick, Ph.D. "It also dilates arteries, allowing more blood to flow through."
  Quince can be found in many jams and jellies. You can also buy it fresh and chop it up into applesauce or poach it and top with yogurt and honey for a heart-healthy dessert.

Eggplant!

If the only time you indulge is the occasional plate of eggplant parmesan, go buy some! Scientists have found that eggplant contains a unique compound called nasunin, one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. "Studies show that nasunin can help keep your brain young by protecting brain tissue from free radical damage," reports King. Eggplant is heart-healthy, too. "It binds up cholesterol in the intestines, so cholesterol isn't absorbed into the bloodstream where it can clog arteries," says Maggie Waldron, executive director of the Ketchum Food Center in San Francisco. Indeed, Canadian studies show that people who ate eggplant once a week lowered their bad cholesterol by 29%--an effect equal to taking cholesterol-lowering medications!

Tangerines! 

This popular lunchbox fruit is packed with vitamin C, which everyone knows can boost your immune system and keep you from catching colds, the flu and other respiratory illnesses. But what makes tangerines really exciting to researchers is that they contain two unique compounds--tangeretin and nobiletin--which in test tube studies, appear to be extremely potent against certain types of breast cancer.  In fact, Canadian researchers recently found these compounds to be 250 times more potent against one type of human breast cancer cell than genistein, a powerful anti-cancer compound found in soy. "And when these compounds were combined, they were even more powerful," reports Selene Yeager, author of The Doctors Book of Home Remedies.
  Scientists have recently discovered that tangeretin has the power to halt the growth of leukemia cells as well--"essentially causing them to program their own deaths without being toxic to healthy cells," Yeager adds.

Tomatoes!

Scientists have long heralded tomatoes as powerful prostate and cervical cancer fighters--thanks to lycopene, the pigment that makes tomatoes red. But the latest life-saving medical breakthrough associated with tomatoes has nothing to do with lycopene. In fact, Scottish researchers have discovered the yellow juice surrounding tomato seeds--called P3--to be a super-potent anti-clotting agent. "P3 is proving to be more effective than aspirin at reducing the risk of blood clots by keeping overactive platelets from clumping together along artery walls," says researcher Asim Dutta-Roy, Ph.D. In one study, P3 from as few as four tomatoes reduced platelet activity by a whopping 72%!

Soy nuts!
Has your doctor said you have high blood pressure? You’re not the only one: more than 60 million Americans—25% of us—do. But before you start popping expensive and potentially dangerous medcation, listen to this: in studies at prestigious Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, women with high blood pressure who ate just 1/2 cup of soy nuts a day for eight weeks slashed their blood pressure by an impressive 10%! "In fact, even women with normal blood pressure saw a 5% decrease, which was really surprising," marvels study author Francine Welty, M.D.
    What are soy nuts? They’re just soybeans that have been plumped in water and then roasted and flavored to achieve a nutty, crunchy taste. And that’s precisely the reason they work so well: nutritional studies show soy nuts contain the highest levels of health-boosting isoflavones of all soy products, ranking higher than even tofu and soy milk! (Bonus: soy is also proven to reduce the symoptoms of menopause—which is why study subjects saw a 54% reduction in hot flashes!)

Shrimp!

If you've been avoiding shrimp because you're concerned about your cholesterol, worry no more. The latest research proves that shellfish has suffered a bad rap, says William P. Castelli, M.D., director of the massive Framingham Heart Study. "Most of the cholesterol in our bodies is manufactured by our bodies," he explains. "It doesn't come from eating cholesterol; it comes from eating too much saturated fat." And while some shellfish--especially shrimp--do contain high amounts of cholesterol, he adds, "they are excruciatingly low in saturated fat."
  What shrimp are high in is heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which according to studies, can slash your risk of heart disease in half simply by eating a mere 8 oz. per week!

Crystallized ginger!
You’ve probably passed them in the baking aisle on your way over to pick up some aspirin: those sweet-tangy slices of dried ginger. But now new studies are showing these might be all you need to ease the pain of arthritis, menstrual cramps, and even sore muscles! Danish researchers have found that dried ginger contains two compounds, gingerol and shogaol, that relieve pain as effectively as drugs like aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil—without upsetting your stomach. How come? Ginger blocks COX-2 enzymes, which are necessary to produce pain and inflammation. But unlike synthetic drugs, it doesn’t block other, beneficial enzymes—so it doesn’t cause stomach bleeding, sat experts.
    The proof: when Danish researchers gave subjects dried ginger for their arthriis, a whopping 100% reported better relief from stiffness, swelling and pain than they had seen from traditional pills. What’s more, 74% of subjects who got ginger for relief of menstrual cramps felt better without drugs!
    Why is crystallized better than fresh? Many people can’t tolerate the ‘sting’ of fresh ginger—so they avoid it. But crystallized, it has a much more muted taste.
To put it to work for you: Enjoy two pieces of crystallized ginger a day. A 1-inch, 1/4 inch-thick piece conatins about 500 mg. of active ingredients.