“If you’ve been loading up on candy and treats that seem to be everywhere this time of year, you might be ready to enjoy some real Halloween superfoods.

Black Rice—Witches aren’t the only ones who can sport black this time of year, so can your dinner plate. If you haven’t tried this ancient grain, it’s delicious. It derives its gothic hue from plant pigments that also pass along their anti-inflammatory properties to you. It’s striking black color also adds an eerie sophistication to your Halloween dinner.

Apples—Skip the candy apples and go straight for a  freshly-picked, ripe apple. They are delicious on their own and full of  valuable nutrients.  Malic acid eases fibromyalgia pain and boosts cellular  energy to help you run from any goblins and ghouls you might encounter this time  of year.  Pectin—a type of fiber—binds to harmful metals and toxins to escort them out of the body. Eat them on their own to reap the best  nutritional benefits, add to salads, or core and cook in a slow cooker with a little water to make apple sauce.

Cacao—Skip the trans-fat and sugar-laden chocolate and go  straight for the better-tasting and highly superior raw cacao. It is the raw  form of chocolate and is available in powder, nibs, or in foods made with this  less-refined version of the decadent Halloween treat. In this form it contains  valuable enzymes that aid digestion and high amounts of calcium and  magnesium—both of which are needed for healthy bones and teeth.

Discover the food that keeps bacteria, fungi, viruses, cancer, and ghouls  away…

Pumpkins—While pumpkins make gorgeous jack-o-lanterns, you  can also enjoy these delicious vegetables as an affordable and nutritious  addition to your diet.  They are packed with beta-carotene which is the  phytonutrient that gives them their gorgeous orange color and helps ensure  healthy skin and a strong immune system.  Small  pumpkins are easy to cook in a slow cooker with a bit of water or cut and roast  them in an oven.

Garlic—Not only does garlic keep the vampires away, it keeps  many other undesirables at bay, including: bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even  cancer. Over 1000 studies reveal garlic’s ability to ward off microbes and fight  cancer.  The National Cancer Institute is even investigating this herb’s  great anti-cancer properties. Roast garlic in some olive oil in a small covered dish in the oven at 350  degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes. Then spread on bread or crackers in  place of butter. Puree roasted garlic in your favorite salad  dressing for an extra flavor and nutrition boost. Add freshly chopped garlic to  soups, stews, salad dressings, and more.

Beets—Keep your blood strong by eating more beets, just in  case you find yourself running from werewolves, vampires, or any other unworldly  creatures.  Research even shows that beets help muscles stay strong longer  than without them, and aid in muscle recovery.  That’s definitely important  if you’re being chased by these unsavory creatures. The phytonutrients that  cause beets to stain your hands and lips the color of blood is also a potent  cancer fighter. They can be eaten raw (grated), steamed, or boiled (although  most of the nutrients are lost in the cooking water), or added to soups and  stews.

Pumpkin Seeds—When carving jack-o-lanterns,  be sure to save the seeds since they are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids that  build strong immunity, and enhance your skin and hair’s natural beauty.   They are a good source of protein which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels  should you have overindulged in Halloween candy.  They also help with  weight loss if you really overdid it this season.  High in the amino acid  tryptophan, which converts into sleep-inducing melatonin, snack on pumpkin seeds  to ensure you enjoy a great night’s sleep after all the Halloween festivities are  over.”

From “7 Halloween Superfoods” By Michelle Schoffro Cook