Superfood power pairs: Delicious combinations that give you more!

RachaelRaymag.com

Some of the healthiest bites out there work even better when eaten together, like raspberries and dark chocolate. Here are seven tasty dynamic duos.

RASPBERRIES + DARK CHOCOLATE = A HEALTHY HEART
It's amore! You get more protection against heart disease when this decadent duo's antioxidants are consumed together than when they are eaten separately, according to Italian researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. All chocolate is not alike, though: According to Natalia Hancock, culinary nutritionist at NYC restaurant Rouge Tomate, "The greater the percentage of cacao, the more antioxidants it contains."

YOGURT + STRAWBERRIES = MORE ENERGY
Pump up your power breakfast: The folate in berries helps you absorb more of the energy-boosting B12 in yogurt, according to Hancock. What yogurt is best? "All varieties have some B12, but the Greek type has the most," she says.

EGGS + CHEESE = STRONGER BONES
A cheese omelet stands between you and osteoporosis, and here's why: Eggs are a good source of vitamin D, according to the National Institutes of Health, and that nutrient helps your body absorb more of the dairy product's bonebuilding calcium.

TOMATOES + AVOCADO = HEALTHIER-LOOKING SKIN
Could the secret to a dewy complexion be this favorite salad combo? A 2008 dermatology report showed that an antioxidant in tomatoes called lycopene helps protect skin from UV damage, which causes wrinkles and age spots. Even better, nutritionists have determined that the fat in avocado significantly increases the amount of lycopene absorbed from the tomatoes. Pass the salad, please!

EDAMAME + MISO SOUP = BETTER DIGESTION
Here's how these two sushi sidekicks work: Edamame (soybeans) contain compounds called prebiotics, which promote the growth of good bacteria, or probiotics. These kick-start fermentation in foods like miso, giving them their tang. When you eat the fermented foods, the good bacteria fight gastrointestinal infections and improve digestion, Hancock says.

SWEET POTATOES + ALMONDS = LOWER CHOLESTEROL
More good news for your ticker: The beta carotene and vitamin C in sweet potatoes work with the vitamin E in tree nuts such as almonds to lower your blood cholesterol levels. A special compound in the skin of almonds appears to make them especially effective, according to 2005 research from the antioxidant lab at the USDA.

GLASS OF RED WINE + SALMON = A BETTER MOOD
Let's lift a glass to this delicious combination. The antioxidants in the wine help your body absorb the salmon's omega-3 fatty acids, which can boost brain health and stave off depression. Cheers!

By Christine Richmond

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