9 Foods Doctors Swear By

March 21, 2014— -- intro: In my book "Eat it to Beat It!" I tell you what to eat and what to avoid, based on the latest medical research. That got me thinking, what do the medical professionals themselves put in their bodies? Here’s a roundup of those foods these doctors always feel good about eating -- their personal favorites.

quicklist: 1category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Greek yogurturl:text: Gerard Mullin, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Integrative GI Nutrition Services and author of "The Inside Tract: Your Good Gut Guide to Great Digestive Health"

“Greek yogurt for palatability, satiation and protein content. Yogurt is also great for feeding the good bugs that live in your intestine, which improves the health of your microbiome, the community of microorganisms that live in your body. More and more research is pointing to probiotics as an effective treatment for weight management and obesity. It’s amazing that feeding the good bugs actually helps people lose weight. Organic, grass-fed yogurt is best because you are getting a better omega fatty acid profile. When animals are fed corn they produce dairy with more omega-6s, but grass-fed animals produce dairy with more healthy omega-3s.”

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quicklist: 2category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Dark, leafy greensurl:text: Donald D. Hensrud, M.D, M.P.H., chair of the Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and author of "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook"

“For me the best food is dark greens, such as arugula, spinach, and lettuces. They are very low in calories, very high in nutrients, and can be prepared in a variety of ways that taste great -- many different types of salads, pasta dishes, lasagna, sandwiches, pesto, soups, or even a spinach pie! Locally in the summer is best and I always feel good about eating them, there’s no downside.”

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quicklist: 3category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Chickpeasurl:text: David L. Katz, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.M., F.A.C.P., director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center and author of "Disease Proof"

“Chickpeas. They are, of course, a nutritional powerhouse like most legumes. They are a good protein source, and I especially like turning to chickpeas for protein so I don't need to eat meat. They have figured in the human diet since the very dawn of civilization, so they are nice connection to our ancestral roots. And they figure as well in some of my favorite cuisines from the Middle East. I love good hummus!”

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quicklist: 4category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Cheeseurl:text: Scott Rankin, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Food Science Department at the University of Wisconsin

“Cheese, for me specifically, Madison Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese. My reasoning: for me it strikes many chords. It’s made locally by people who I regard as scholars of cheese manufacturing -- both in science and in craftsmanship. The complex flavor reflects so many elements of the company -- small-scale production, scholarship, grass-fed dairy and craftsmanship. The flavor really tells a terrific story.”

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quicklist: 5category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Tomatoesurl:text: Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., Guthrie Chair in Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University, and author of "The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet"

“A favorite for me is the tomato. It is nutrient-rich and low in calorie density and it can be added to many types of meals to make them more satisfying. I look forward to the summer with the huge variety of heirloom tomatoes at the local farmers markets. At one market near me, the misshapes are sold by the basket and I eat myself silly along with the rest on my family.”

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quicklist: 6category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Whey protein shakesurl:text: Holly Lofton, M.D., director of the Medical Weight Management Program at NYU Langone Medical Center

“I am always in favor of having a homemade whey protein shake with almond milk and 1 cup of frozen berries. Whey is highly bioavailable, so I know that my body is actually using this type of protein to build muscle, which keeps my metabolism fast. Many ‘pseudo-health’ drinks, while made with natural ingredients like fruit, provide the body with large doses of sugar. Though they may also have vitamins, your body sees those types of drinks as nothing more than taking a vitamin and following it with a sugar drink. With my busy lifestyle, I can count on the whey protein shake to be convenient, vitamin-rich, and most importantly, keep me full for about 4 hours. It’s also good for minimizing bloating when fitting into the latest fashions.”

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quicklist: 7category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Nutsurl:text: Yoni Freedhoff, M.D., medical director of the Bariatric Medical Institute at the University of Ottawa, author of "The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work"“The one kind of food that most helps me live healthfully is nuts, and for me, any nut will do. I love them of course because they’re delicious, but also because study after study suggests that their inclusion in my diet helps prevent many chronic diseases. I also love them because they are full of protein and healthy fats that leave me feeling fuller longer, which in turns helps me all day long with dietary restraint. One trick I like to do is buy a cheap 1/4 cup measuring cup to store with my container of nuts. Nuts are quite energy dense, with each 1/4 cup of whole nuts coming in at around 200 calories.”

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quicklist: 8category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Eggsurl:text: Robert Lustig, M.D., M.S.L., director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) Program at the University of California, San Francisco, president of the nonprofit Institute for Responsible Nutrition, and author of "The Fat Chance Cookbook"

“Eggs! They have lots of high quality protein, especially tryptophan. Protein is satiating, and also you spend more energy converting it to a metabolite that can be burned, which aids in weight management. Eggs got a bad rap in the 1980’s because of the cholesterol in the yolk. But it does not raise the small dense LDL, which is the atherogenic particle [the one that forms plaques in your arteries]. Eggs are great by themselves, with many different ways of preparation, or they can be added to foods easily.”

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quicklist: 9category: Foods Doctors Swear By title: Avocadosurl:text: Taz Bhatia, M.D., assistant professor at Emory University in Preventive/Integrative Medicine, director of the Atlanta Center for Holistic and Integrative Medicine, and author of "What Doctors Eat"

“I swear by avocados! The heart-healthy unsaturated fat in a delicious serving of avocado helps me stay full, which keeps me from snacking too much. Avocados are packed with vitamins C, K and B6 and they contain pre- and probiotics -- keeping my gut healthy!”

Dave Zinczenko, ABC News nutrition and wellness editor, is a New York Times No. 1 bestselling author. His latest book, "Eat It to Beat It!" is full of food swaps, meal plans and the latest food controversies.

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